Psychologist Shares Insights About Parenting & "Trophy Kids"
PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - Most parents want their children to succeed, but some parents take it too far when it comes to sports.
Experts say these parents will push their children to the physical and mental limit, seeing their children as a meal ticket or a vessel to continue their own past dreams. These parents, experts say, are trying to raise "trophy kids."
Dr. Christian Conte is a nationally-certified psychologist, author, and co-host of "Coaching Bad" on Spike TV. He shared his expertise on this phenomenon with Mike Pintek.
Dr. Conte explained that "parents can be bullies" and that this may "come from a place of caring," but others only see actions, not intentions.
"The fact is they are only doing irreparable damage," Dr. Conte said.
This, Dr. Conte says, causes a "lifetime of anxiety and depression because there is a sense of never being enough."
When parents push their kids too hard, Dr. Conte says it has the opposite intended effect. The child may lose interest and the effort will no longer be there.
Dr. Conte wanted parents to know that they should "become the type of role model that your children want to emulate" and by "demeaning your children, you're not becoming the person that they want to emulate."
Listen to the full interview here:
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