Modeling Good Behavior for Children

July 14, 2020

Children and teens are always watching what adults do. They see how you handle stress. They watch how you treat other people and observe how you deal with your feelings. They soak in the information, and even when you think your children aren’t paying attention, it’s essential to be a positive role model.

Children learn by watching what adults do. Here are a few simple tips:

Follow your own rules—strive to follow the rules you want your children to follow.

Model life skills—Think about what you want your children to learn from you and try to model that in your life. There will be moments when you make mistakes. When that happens, take the opportunity to talk to your children about the mistake and how you will do things differently next time. Children learn important lessons from you even when you make mistakes.

Live a healthy life—When you eat healthily and exercise on a regular basis, you’re setting a good example for your kids.

Show respect and teach empathy—Every parent wants to raise kids who are kind to others. Be respectful to everyone you interact with and soon your kids will be doing the same. Allow your kids to see you being compassionate and empathetic to others too. Use situations that occur around you to talk about how others might be feeling. Teaching kids to be empathetic is one of the best ways to prevent them from bullying others.

Demonstrate social and emotional skills—Show your children how to manage emotions, like frustration or sadness. Talk about your feelings when you are upset, angry, or sad, and encourage them to do the same.

Work hard—Developing a solid work ethic is a life skill every child needs. Whether it is working hard in school, at a part-time job, or on a sports team, children need to have a good work ethic. The best way to instill this skill is to first model it at home.

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