Say less, show more
Model the behaviors that express your values.
What if your children pick up values through your actions rather than your words? Children notice what you do far more than what you say, so your actions teach them the values they’ll carry.
✳️✳️✳️
We take our children to school and someone cuts us off. Do we slam the horn and shout at the other driver, or stay calm and let it go? A sibling spills a drink or forgets a chore. Do we raise our voice and shake our heads in frustration, or respond with care and guidance? While waiting in line at the grocery store with our child, do we huff and complain, or take a deep breath and wait patiently?
These moments seem trivial. They aren’t. Every action we take, especially in the little hassles of everyday life, teaches our children which behaviors are appropriate and which values matter. When we shout, shake our heads, or complain, we model impatience, self-interest, and disrespect. When we stay calm, respond with care, or wait without fuss, we model patience, respect, and kindness.
Actions speak louder than words. We can tell our children to treat others with respect, but when our actions contradict that message, our words have little impact.
Children pick up their behavior and values from watching how we behave, observing how we treat the cashier at the grocery store, let someone merge in traffic, wait patiently for a slow elevator, or stay calm during a conversation as the other person is raising their voice. They notice it all, and over time, repeated behaviors shape the values they carry and the way they treat others. So if we want our children to embody certain qualities, we need to show them ourselves, consistently.
Modeling behavior repeatedly is like tending a garden: consistent actions of care help the garden grow strong.
🎉👏🎈
What we do teaches more than what we say. Consistently model the values you want your children to live by.
