How many times do you find yourself saying things like:
“Don’t forget to use your manners…”
“Please clean up your mess…”
“Don’t forget to wash your hands…”
Only to have a response like:
“NO!” Or, “BUT I DON’T WANT TO!”
It’s True… Sometimes We Struggle To Get Our Kids To Listen.
We repeat ourselves over and over again…
And, to no avail.
It’s a tiring battle…
It’s as if our kids are PURPOSELY doing the opposite!
So we try to beat them at their own game…
We pull out some ‘reverse psychology’ on them…
But, even that doesn’t work!
Because kids are smarter than that…
Kids Are Observant.
They can tell when you’re fooling. They can read your body language and they can tell by your tone.
They know you well.
Maybe even TOO well…
At the End of the Day, it Doesn’t Matter What you Say,
It Only Matters What you DO!
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders,
-James Baldwin
but they have never failed to imitate them.”
Model It!
Modeling the behavior you want to see in your child is a MUST.
If you want your kids to use their manners, they must see YOU use your manners.
If you want your kids to clean up after themselves, they must see YOU cleaning up after yourself!
If you want your kids to practice hygiene, they need to see YOU practice good hygiene.
And no, you can’t just do it ONCE and call it a day… They NEED to see you repeat your ideal behaviour!
Why Do Kids Copy What They See?
Kids notice the actions of others through their Mirror Neurons.
Mirror Neurons are types of brain cells that pick up what others are doing around us.
When kids see others performing an action, their Mirror Neurons observe it and signal for our body to do the same.
Kids Learn Best Through Imitation.
They imitate what they see in order to learn new things and new skills.
And because you as parents spend the most time with your kids, what you DO, what they SEE you DO, matters the most!
This is a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because through our actions, we are able to mold our kids brains and shape them the way we desire.
A curse if we are not modelling the behaviour that we expect of our kids.
But I choose to see it as a blessing! An OPPORTUNITY even!
An opportunity because YOU as the parent have the power to choose your actions and words!
To inspire your children through your actions and words.
And what a power that is to have…
With love,
Miss T.
Mindful Miss T. 