14/10/2025
THESE 5 SIGNS SHOWS YOU ARE DISPLAYING FAVOURISM AMONGST YOUR CHILDREN.
YOU NEED TO STOP đ
Last week, I sat with a mother who was almost in tears.
She told me, âI donât know why my children fight so much. They donât seem to love each other.â
I gently asked her a few questions, and slowly she began to realize something: without knowing it, she had been practicing favoritism.
Not the big, obvious kind.
The small, subtle actions that children notice but parents often overlook.
Here are 5 signs you might be showing favoritism among your children and the side effects it can bring.
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1. Always praising one child more than the others
She noticed she often praised her eldest because he was outspoken, but rarely celebrated the quiet achievements of her daughter.
Side effect: One child grows proud, while the other begins to feel invisible and unworthy.
2. Giving more responsibilities to one child, while excusing the other
She always sent her daughter on errands because she was âresponsible,â but excused her son because âboys are careless.â
Side effect: One child feels burdened, the other grows entitled. Both develop resentment.
3. Comparing siblings openly
She would often say, âWhy canât you be more like your brother?â
Side effect: Instead of learning from each other, they see each other as rivals.
4. Listening to one child more than the other.
She realized she took her eldestâs complaints seriously but brushed off her younger childâs feelings.
Side effect: One child feels heard and valued, the other feels neglected and unloved.
5. Rewarding one child differently for the same effort
She gave her son a big gift for good grades but only hugged her daughter for the same achievement.
Side effect: The message is clear,love and attention must be earned differently. This breeds jealousy and competition.
By the time she finished talking, she whispered,
âI didnât mean to.
I love them all the same.â
And thatâs the truth for many parents:
favoritism is rarely intentional, but children donât see intentions. They see actions.
So dear parent, if you notice these signs, pause and reflect.
Every child deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and loved equally. Because when favoritism sneaks in, it doesnât just affect today
It shapes how siblings love each other for the rest of their lives.
Remember we are raising children that will shine God's light and influence their generations positively..
I celebrate you â¤ď¸