Don’t spoil me.
I know quite well that I ought not to have all that I ask for, I’m only testing you.

Don’t be afraid to be firm with me.
I prefer it, it makes me more secure.

Don’t make feel smaller than I am.
It only makes me behave stupidly ‘big’.

Don’t correct me in front of people if you can help it.
I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly in private.

Don’t make me feel my mistakes are sins.
It upsets my sense of values.

Don’t protect me from consequences.
I sometimes need to learn the painful way.

Don’t be too upset when I say, ‘I hate you’.
It isn’t you I hate but your power to thwart me.

Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments.
Somestimes they get me the attention I need.

Don’t forget I cannot explain myself as well as I should like.
This is why I’m not always very accurate.

Don’t make rash promises.
Remember that  feel badly let down when promises are broken.

Don’t tax my honesty too much.
I am easily frightened into tellings lies.

Don’t be inconsistent.
That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.

Don’t tell me my fears are silly.
They are terribly real, and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

Don’t put me off when I ask questions.
If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.

Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible.
It gives me too great a shock.

Don’t ever think that it is beneath your diginity to apologise to me.
An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm towards you.

Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up.
It must be difficult to keep pace with me but do try.

Don’t forget I love experimenting.
I couldn’t get on without it, so please put up with me.

Don’t forget I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and love.
But I don’t need to tell you, do I?