From a very young age, all children see are just their parents – who also become their primary source of learning while growing up. There is no doubt in the saying that “children are like sponges” they literally absorb everything you do – from your behavior to your language to your attitude – they pick on everything and try to replicate it as well.
This is why what you do and how you behave in front of your child matters a lot. Jonah Engler says you have to be careful at all times about what you are putting out there to make sure your child doesn’t pick on anything that is just not appropriate for them or a habit you don’t want them to develop. However, unfortunately, it’s easier said than done.
As parents, we all want the best for our children and want them to develop the best habits and bring out their best selves in the world. But most parents often struggle to do this because they fail to really be their child’s primary learning source– themselves. Your children learn the most from you – they pick on your behavior, talking style, attitude, and how you respond to others.
Don’t believe us? Here is a list of 3 habits your child learns from you.
Habits your Child Will Learn from You
1. Gratitude
Gratitude is something that even most adults don’t have and thus, negatively impacting their mentality towards life and relationships. However, if you want your child to learn to be grateful for all the little things in life, you have got to practice gratitude yourself. The best way to do that would be to say “thank you” whenever you are grateful for anything – even if it’s your child. If they have done something good for you, thank them for explaining how it is done.
2. Apologizing
This is another habit that even most adults find difficult to practice, but being able to apologize when you are wrong is one of the best habits one can have. As a parent, you need to teach your child to take responsibility for their behavior and apologize to the person in question. And the best way to do that would be to apologize when you’re with them. Jonah Engler says not just with other people but with them as well. This will teach them to take responsibility for their actions and apologize to people despite their age.
3. Acceptance
Lastly, acceptance is a trait that children learn at home. When children are born, they do not know how to differentiate people based on worldly possessions, physical features, or other factors. Innately they show love and warmth toward whoever does the same for them. However, as children grow up, they learn the difference among people and start treating people differently, mostly based on how their parents treat a certain group of people. You need to teach your child to be accepting of people despite their differences – be it their physical appearance, their social class, their profession, or language. This is a habit that will go a long way with them!
Habits your Kids are Learning from You
Jonah Engler believes children represent their parents and mirror their behavior – if you want your child to grow to become a good human being, you need to act like one around them. There is no better way to teach children than through your own actions.