Radio Commentary
If you think your children aren’t watching your actions, you’re wrong.
Children watch adults all the time
— especially their parents. And children often do what adults do.
So here’s a good tip: whatever
you would like your children to pick up, try to model it.
If you want your children to be polite, then
let them see you being polite in a variety of situations. That’s how they
learn.
Next time you’re prone to express some
frustration in the car with your children, stop and remember they may well pick
up your anger and how you express it.
If you yell, you can bet that sometime, in
another situation, your children may be doing their own interpretation of your
performance.
Whether it’s a young child trying
to make sense of adult behavior, or a teen trying on a variety of personas,
young people are more watchful than you realize.
Remembering that the spotlight is
always shining can be helpful. Many parents find they benefit in the process,
by modifying their behavior accordingly.
Of course no one can always be perfect. If
your children see you act in a way you would not like them to model, take the
time to talk and explain the situation.
Remind them that even adults act impulsively
and regret their actions at times.
Learning is a never-ending process.
