Kids Learn From What They See

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Real life

My husband is a great man. He works hard and has strong integrity. Most days he also treats me like a princess. He opens doors for me, helps carry bags, always has me go first, and generally treats me like a precious jewel.

A few weeks ago my sister and I were out shopping. I stood in front of a door and she laughed at me – I was waiting for the door to open. She thought this was hilarious. I told her that in my world doors open by themselves or a male opens it. I rarely open doors on my own. Silly, I know.

But that conversation made me realize that it’s not just my husband who opens doors for me – my sons do, too. They also carry my bags from the grocery store, let me go first when walking somewhere, and treat me like I’m someone special.

Surely, they learned this from watching their dad. Over the years they observed how he treats me, and they now treat me the same way. They will carry this behavior into their marriages. I pray for those precious jewels of young women every day.

Parents: the first teachers

Kids learn from observing their parents. Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, and they have a significant influence on their children’s development and learning. They continue to have a strong influence on their kids, even through the teen and young adult years.

Children are observe and imitate their parents’ behaviors, attitudes, and language every day. They also learn from their parents’ successes and mistakes.

What do children learn?

Children learn a wide range of skills from their parents, including social skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and matters of faith. They then take these skills into their future relationships.

For example, if parents model respectful communication and conflict resolution skills, their children are more likely to develop these skills as well.

On the other hand, if parents model aggressive or disrespectful behavior, their children are more likely to display similar behavior.

Indeed, it is important for parents to be mindful of the behaviors and attitudes we model for our children, as children are always watching and learning from us. By modeling positive behaviors and attitudes, we can help our children develop into confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals.

Whenever you can this week, pay close attention to what you are modeling for your children. What are they observing in your life? How do you talk to others? How do you treat them? Do you serve others with love? Do you lose your temper? Are you letting others go first?

Consider keeping a journal of what you observe, what you’d like to change, steps to make changes, and your successes.

I know we all want to be the best parents we can. This is one step toward that goal.

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Peace,

🌸 Andrea

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