I had a client one time, like many children before her even my own daughter - (see the picture - sorry baby girl!) - who cut her own hair. When I noticed her hair she told me "I'm a bad girl". I reflected what she said and she repeated emphatically "I'm a bad girl mommy said so!"
I know the purpose of saying "don't do that- bad girl or bad boy" is to teach - yet we don't understand how we teach and the way we use words can impact a child's soul. Note that when I noticed her hair she didn't first tell me the story of what happened or why she cut her hair - she told me she was a bad girl for doing it. She shared what she learned - which was not to not cut her hair but that she is bad.
Try this instead - telling them what they should be doing instead of labeling them as bad - like "oh looks like you cut your hair - these scissors are for paper only - Miss Shauna is the only one with special hair scissors."
Words are powerful - guide children by pointing out the path they should take - not by labeling them. If their actions need correcting then show them the correct way. Kids are curious and they are learning - don't shut down their sense of curiousity and wonder!
I know the purpose of saying "don't do that- bad girl or bad boy" is to teach - yet we don't understand how we teach and the way we use words can impact a child's soul. Note that when I noticed her hair she didn't first tell me the story of what happened or why she cut her hair - she told me she was a bad girl for doing it. She shared what she learned - which was not to not cut her hair but that she is bad.
Try this instead - telling them what they should be doing instead of labeling them as bad - like "oh looks like you cut your hair - these scissors are for paper only - Miss Shauna is the only one with special hair scissors."
Words are powerful - guide children by pointing out the path they should take - not by labeling them. If their actions need correcting then show them the correct way. Kids are curious and they are learning - don't shut down their sense of curiousity and wonder!