Children watch adults and learn

Elena, the mother of 10-year-old Katya, says: “Recently, her friend came to visit my daughter. We chatted a bit. After a couple of days, my daughter reported that a friend found me sweet and calm and would like my daughter to grow up the same. I was surprised, because we talked with my daughter’s girlfriend for only a few minutes. I only showed hospitality, but my daughter’s friend thought it was something unusual.

Another friend, Katie, once said: “My father does not respect women.” I was stunned and asked why she thinks so. It turned out that she witnessed a situation where her parents argued about politics, and her father told her mother: “Shut up.” “The girl was not at all interested in politics, but before that she had never seen her father being rude to her mother.”

At first glance, both of these situations may seem insignificant – after all, children still do not understand much. But the children watch adults all the time and do the same. The old rule: “Do as I say, and not as I do” no longer works. Continue reading →