Quotes

As young people, we know that language has the power to shape how children see themselves and the world around them. Supportive words can build confidence and a sense of belonging, while harmful ones can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. That is why Words Matter’s mission to end childhood verbal abuse is so vital – every child deserves to

For too long, childhood verbal abuse  by adults has gone under the radar, yet it is all around us. We must act now, given the lifelong impact on children’s mental and physical health and wellbeing and the monumental cost to society. Let’s build children up, not knock them down, and create a better future for children.

The words our carers and authority figures say to us shape the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we are worth. They impact how we expect to be valued and determine if we believe we can be loved by others. As significant as actions, words create the foundation upon which we stand in life – they

Words, especially for children, can pierce the soul and bruise the heart, with long-lasting consequences. That awareness needs to be brought to the public

Everyday exchanges that children participate in and witness between others shape their developing brains. As a researcher, clinician and parent, I see how children form narratives about themselves and the world based on how they are spoken to and spoken about. There is a great opportunity to support the development of healthy brains and positive narratives by creating a culture

The time has come to recognise verbal abuse as a form of violence against children that is not only detrimental to their health and wellbeing but also a violation of their fundamental human rights. The work of Words Matter is instrumental in raising awareness of this critical issue and developing interventions and strategies to prevent it so that children may

What we say to our children, whether good or bad, affects them. If you choose words that communicate empathy and show your care, even when their behaviour might be difficult, it will provide them with the foundations for developing as compassionate, caring human beings who know what it means to be seen and accepted by those close to them.

It is not just the words, but the tone in which they are said that is just as important. But the good news is that evidence-based parenting programmes improve both the content and tone of how parents relate to their children and lead to happier, better adjusted young people who grow into more contented adults.

The words we say and the way we say them can have very significant impact on us as individuals and our relationships with others. We need better understanding, through research, of the consequences of verbal abuse, overt or covert, especially on children and young people to improve their quality of life.

Words create images in our minds, for good or ill, which shape our experience of reality. Bad words create oppressive and destructive images, which we may spend a lifetime struggling to free ourselves from. Would it not be better if language that was disrespectful, punitive, shaming and destructive to the person would simply not be used in the first place?