Whenever these parents talk to their children, the conversation centers on what the children are doing poorly or what they can’t do. If a child has trouble with fractions or has sloppy work habits or doesn’t pronounce syllables properly — whatever the problem — the parents let him or her know about these weaknesses continually. The result is a constant eroding of their child’s self-concept. But parents who build on their kids’ strengths find their children growing in responsibility almost daily.
