Why "Over-Narrating" is the Top Parenting Advice to Avoid

This post is Part 2 of the "Narrating to your child" series. You can read Part 1 where we talked about the brain science and the pros of this Top Parenting Advice, here.

The Hidden Cost of Constant Talking

The first thing we have to acknowledge when we talk about 'narrating everything' is you. Your energy, your capacity, which may lead to parental burnout.

It is not easy to show up and narrate all day long. You are already a superhero juggling a thousand roles. There will be days where narrating feels like a heavy chore. And that's okay.

Consistency is key in child development. If we try to go '100% perfect' on Monday and end up completely burnt out and silent by Wednesday, we lose that consistency.

Quality communication is a marathon, not a sprint. We want to build a relationship that lasts for years, not just a performance that lasts for an hour.

If burnout impacts you directly, it affects your child indirectly. And that's why we need to be mindful of how much we say.

The Science of "Background Noise

When we over-narrate, we can accidentally 'cloud' our child’s mental space.

Once a child has registered a word or a concept, and we keep talking, their brain does something interesting: it starts to tune us out.

If there’s no new 'value' in what we’re saying, our voice just becomes background noise.

This can become a habit. What starts as kind intentions when they are babies can slowly turn into a habit of 'nagging' as they get older.

We mask it by saying, 'I’m just telling you this for your own good,' but the pattern of tuning us out is already set.

This is often where the 'disconnect' starts. Later on, we might wonder why our children aren't listening or why we don't feel as close.

Often, that compound effect started right here, in these early years, when we didn't give them enough space to hear their own thoughts.

In my next post, I'll be sharing a real case experience touching on the magic of giving instructions and pausing, to build a positive habit through a simple daily interaction. 

Read it here.