How to Support a Child Who Feels Minor Corrections Are Disrespect 

Parenting Perspective 

Some children are highly sensitive and may interpret even small corrections as personal criticism or disrespect. This can lead to frustration, withdrawal, or defensive behaviour. Supporting them means helping them separate the feeling of being corrected from their sense of self-worth and showing them that guidance is not a form of rejection. 

Validate Their Feelings Without Agreeing 

You can start by acknowledging their feelings. Say something like, “I can see that the correction upset you, but it does not mean you are being disrespected.” This simple phrase affirms their emotions while gently helping them shift their perspective. 

Normalise Correction as Part of Growth 

Explain that everyone, including adults, receives correction and that it is a natural part of life. Share examples from your own life where someone pointed out a mistake and how it helped you improve. This shows your child that correction is a sign of care, not disrespect. 

Teach Them to Reframe the Moment 

Help your child practise replacing defensive thoughts with constructive ones. Instead of thinking, ‘They are being unfair,’ encourage them to think, ‘This is a chance to do better.’ Over time, this reframing helps them view corrections as valuable tools for success, not as personal attacks on their dignity. 

By supporting your child in this way, you teach them resilience and a healthy perspective, making them less likely to feel threatened by everyday guidance. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islamic teachings remind us that challenges and corrections are opportunities for growth. A believer’s strength is not in resisting correction but in accepting it with grace and humility. 

Guidance from the noble Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 286: 

‘Allah (Almighty) does not place any burden on any human being except that which is within his capacity…’ 

This verse reminds us that the challenges and corrections we face are never beyond what we can handle. Allah Almighty equips us with the strength to grow through them. 

Teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 5643, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The believer is like a fresh tender plant. The wind bends it, and sometimes it sways back, but it always straightens again.’ 

This Hadith teaches us that corrections and trials may momentarily unsettle us, but a believer learns, adapts, and grows stronger with each experience. 

By helping your child see minor corrections as a sign of care rather than disrespect, you are connecting them to the Islamic principle that advice and guidance are signs of love. They will learn that their dignity is not diminished by being corrected and that humility in such moments strengthens both their character and their faith.