The Identity Trap of Childhood Labels

Some labels offer reassurance and support, while others limit growth for years to come.

By shifting definitive labels to more flexible language, adults can help children see themselves as capable of growth and change. Ridofranz/Getty Images

Children today are often labeled. They’re told that they’re gifted or below grade level, a natural leader or a troublemaker, athletic or book smart, artistic or analytical. They might be given any number of professional diagnoses aimed at describing their behavior, learning styles, or emotional challenges. Some of these labels arise from sincere efforts to help. Others are applied casually, repeated thoughtlessly, or embraced too quickly.

People are drawn to labels because they appear to offer clarity and relief when life feels uncertain. They can be used to secure support and resources to address a problem. However, when the label is used in a way that defines the child, the cost can be great.

Long-Term Harm

Although the validity of such labels is open to question, the power of them is not. It may seem like a harmless or even helpful thing to do at the beginning—naming a perceived limitation. However, once a label has been affixed, it has a way of lodging itself inside a child’s identity.