overprotective · belittling · dismissive · hand-holding · spoon-feeding · talking down · demeaning · helicopter · mothering · fussing · sheltering · naive · helpless · tantrum · pacifier · scolding · lecturing · finger-wagging
IDEA.org / Words / treating like a child
Related — condescending (Superior and dismissive manner); babying (Treating as helpless); coddling (Overindulgent, protective treatment); infantilizing · smothering · overprotective · belittling · dismissive · hand-holding · spoon-feeding · talking down · demeaning · helicopter
AUTONOMY AND RESPECTtreating like a child ≠ empowering Giving authority or confidence
POWER DYNAMICStreating like a child ≠ looking up to Admiring and respecting greatly; consulting · answering to · patronizing
emotional registertreating like a child ≠ leveling with Speaking honestly to; challenging
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/treating_like_a_child