Studies have shown that narcissism is on the rise, which is actually a really terrifying thing if you think about it.

It suggests that people are actually becoming conditioned to become more narcissistic, meaning that healthy relationships will become increasingly rare.

If you want your child to have a chance at a healthy relationship, make sure you do these things to help prevent narcissism.

Related: The Disarming Truth About Whether True Narcissists Know They Are Narcissists

Here are 7 crucial ways to avoid raising a narcissist:

1. Don’t make your child the center of the universe
   Yes, we know you love your child, but they need to know that other people around them have feelings. By making sure they don’t get used to being the center of everyone’s attention, you teach them to be considerate of others and that everyone is equally important.

Related: 7 Signs A Woman You Know Is A Total Narcissist

2. When your child is mean to another child, ask him how he would feel or explain what the consequences are
   Narcissists often do things because they feel entitled to do them. Again, you need to show your child that being mean and manipulative will not win them any friends and that these children are hurting because of their actions.
3. Let your child fail once in a while
   Have you ever noticed how children who have parents who are always fighting with teachers over grades tend to have narcissistic traits? This is because insisting on special treatment for your child tends to make them believe that they are entitled to special treatment all the time. Teaching them how to deal with failure and frustration is one of the easiest ways to avoid narcissism and burnout.

Related: 7 Symptoms & Signs Of A Superiority Complex In Someone You Know

4. Focus on connections rather than impressions
   One of the easiest ways to ensure your child doesn’t turn into a narcissist is to focus on real friendships and real relationships rather than just letting him hog the spotlight. When they have real friends and a real connection with people, they will be less likely to feel low in self-esteem and will be less likely to act like a narcissist.
5. Learn to say “no”
   Children need to learn boundaries, and that means you need to tell them they’re not getting their way from time to time. a surprise! Having boundaries makes children less likely to be narcissists.

Related: How To Avoid Narcissists And Toxic People, According To A Self-Aware Narcissist

6. Focus on warmth rather than praise
   If there’s one thing we’ve learned recently, it’s that too much praise leads to narcissistic behavior. It makes people believe that they are worth more than they are, and at the same time, it actually leads to lower self-esteem. On the other hand, warmth tends to be more reassuring.

7. Teach them that love is not the same as approval
   Narcissists often don’t realize this and tend to consider approval better than love. You need to teach them the difference and make it clear that consent is fleeting.