Parenting Tip of the Day: Don't embarrass your kids

May 18, 11:42 AMParenting ExaminerTerreece Clarke

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Embarrassing your kids on purpose may be funny and it may backfire.

It can be pretty funny - doing things that purposely embarrass your children. Normally, around adolescence, there isn't too much that doesn't cause them to experience a warm flush of heat to the cheeks.

Indulging in the temptation to kiss your 'ittle woovy pooh' in front of the school building may crack you up, but purposely embarrassing your kids can have more of an effect on them than you realize.

Kids know the difference between a clueless mom who hasn't realized her 8 year-old son no longer thinks public handholding with his mom is cool and a mom who gets a kick out of seeing him squirm.

Good natured teasing at home or in private is one thing, but doing it in public can come across as bullying or taking advantage of your authority position at a time when kids very vunerable. Wondering what weird thing mom or dad is going to do in front of your crush can add to the social stress your kids may already face and it could cause them to lose trust in you.

Your kids need to know they can trust you with their most sensitve and embarrassing secrets. The last thing you need is a kid who wonders if they can trust their parents with the really important things in their lives.