5 Key Ways to Be a Good Role Model to Your Kids

Besides providing for the basic needs of a child and ensuring their mental growth and development, like leadership, parenting is quite engaging and requires a high level of influence. As a parent, it is your responsibility to model the values you want your kids to live by because if you don’t, the society would serve as a surrogate providing models who would inculcate vices into them. Here are 5 key areas you should work on:

1. Model consistency. Whether you are with your family, friends, or co-workers, your child needs to see that you are the same person wherever you are and whoever you are with. Your child needs to know that you are the real deal and rock solid, not a person whose personality is constantly shifting.

2. Model self-denial. It’s easy to live a life that’s focused on “me.” Your child needs to see that you’re willing to forego buying things and doing things that would give you comfort and pleasure.

3. Model honour. If you want your child to honour and respect you, then show your child how it’s done by honouring others, whether you think they deserve it or not.

4. Model control over words. Words matter. You need to chain your tongue, tame and train it. Make sure the words that come out of your mouth towards your spouse, child, friends, and even those you’re in conflict with are respectful and kind.

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5. Model appropriate actions. Your child is always watching. Your child sees the kinds of movies and television shows you watch, notices the music you listen to, the people you associate with, the way you drive, and the way you treat your spouse and other people. Your child’s actions will often be a reflection of your actions. As Benjamin Franklin put it, “Well done is better than well said.”

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