I want to start a movement, a movement that could help to prevent some of today's many self-worth related issues. It will start when we stop telling children they are cute.

When we were kids, we all were rampaged with the words, "aww you're so cute!" or, "you look so pretty/handsome in that outfit!" So we began to think that being cute and attractive was how to get attention, and thus how people would learn to like us.

I spent my childhood thinking i was better than other children. It was not because I was smarter, more athletic, or more talented. It was because so many adults told me I was pretty at a young age.

When I finally realized that I'm actually relatively average looking, I was crushed. What? Am I just like everybody else? Do I actually have to work for my self worth? Yes.

It's a crazy idea I know.

So why do we do this to children? We all went though some time in our lives where we felt as if our problems were rooted in not being attractive enough. So why are we continuing the cycle by telling little kids we like their haircuts and adorable tiny noses? It's habit. We do what our parents and grandparents did. When we see a cute little cousin, nephew, or random little kid, we don't know what to say. Instead of trying to make conversation, we awkwardly compliment the child on something mundane and unimportant: their appearance.

When I see a little kid now, I attempt to avoid complimenting their appearance. Instead I ask them what they like to do. Maybe I'll compliment how well they were able to help cleaning up or coloring in a picture.

When we break the cycle, and teach kids to value their efforts over their appearance, they're going to be much more productive, and hopefully their self-worth will be earned not given. I hope that most kids aren't how I was as a child. Thinking that you are a superior life-form based on appearance is a slippery slope --- that quickly leads to a cliff at puberty when everything turns against you.

I don't want my children to stop loving themselves when they get a pimple or don't like how their new haircut frames their face. If they do end up being stereotypically "attractive," I hope it doesn't become an excuse to be rude or lazy. Nothing is worse for a person than thinking that the world revolves around him or her.

To sum things up: Don't tell children how adorable they are, it's better if they don't know.