People have been attaching labels to everything since time immemorial because it helps make sense of the world we live in. As such, labeling is often necessary and even serves as an effective way for people living in a society to connect with each other. However, though it’s okay to have a perception and label things or situations, what about doing the same to a young individual? What happens when we end up tagging children as “Good” or “Bad”?
We, at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, recognized among the best CBSE schools in Gurgaon, believe that unlike things or objects, our young individuals have the inherent ability to grow, develop, and change. Thus, narrowing down their talents and abilities in simply two boxes of “good” and “bad” is not only unfair to their potential but also leaves an indelible mark on their psyche for a lifetime. On that note, let us have a closer look today at the long-term repercussions of tagging children.
The finality associated with labels is harmful to the kids
The labels end up assigning kids a particular quality at a very young age when they are still developing and growing with each passing day. In doing that, the tags put on their personalities stifle their other interests and make them see their own selves in a particular way. And, all of these happens at such a young age when none of us exactly know what they’ll go on to do or grow up to be.
Fosters the feeling that talents are unchangeable and innate
If we tell a child that he is bad at math from a young age, he will question himself every time he takes a calculus or algebra test. And, he will always reach the same conclusion: “why bother? I’m bad at it anyway.” Talents are changeable and can be improved with conscious efforts, much like how human nature is. Thus, tagging kids will only make them give up on even trying to make those necessary changes.
Makes it difficult to correct the wrong behavior
Whether implied or explicit, these tags remain ingrained in a child’s mind. In such a scenario, when children are scolded for wrongful behavior, they feel that the negative words are directed towards them as a person instead of their behavior. Per se, if children are already tagged as “bad,” they start seeing it as an inherent trait that they can’t shake off for good. And, how can they change who they supposedly are as individuals? Now, the seeds of such a thought process in the young minds make it difficult to correct their wrong behavior.
Affects the self-esteem and self-confidence of the kids
At DPS Sushant Lok, we have seen that tagging children as “good” or “bad” can make their self-esteem and self-confidence take a major hit. For children who have always heard that they are “good,” even something like scoring low for once in one exam can shake that ingrained self-belief. On the other hand, someone who has been tagged as “bad” will lack the self-assurance to try harder and do better.
Might influence the way others perceive and treat them
When children are labeled, it also changes the perception that people and their peers have about them. As such, negative labels might lower people’s expectations in a way that the individuals are not adequately challenged to reach their true potential. Similarly, even tagging them as “good boy/girl” puts them under constant pressure to perform and meet the expectations that people have of them. Both of these scenarios can be equally detrimental to their long-term development.
We, at DPS Sushant Lok, one of the best CBSE schools in Gurgaon, believe that each one of our young geniuses is unique and special in their own inimitable ways. And, with the right amount of support and encouragement offered from our end, they can all reach great heights in their lives. In ensuring that, we only need to remember to let their childhood remain a time for discovery and exploration, instead of labels and tags.