Every parent should be aware of the overarching importance of setting a good example to their children. The more effectively you do this, after all, the more likely it is that they are going to have the best possible start in life, and continue to pursue a life that will truly work out for them. But it is one thing knowing the importance of setting a good example, and quite another actually knowing how to make this a reality. Let’s take a look at four of the major ways in which you can set a good example to your kids.
Speech
Your speech is one of the most important places you need to make sure you are setting a good example. If what you say makes sense, and it is honest and direct, then your children are more likely to speak in that way too. Being able to speak confidently and with honesty and conviction is one of the most important things of all, so it’s something that you should definitely focus on as best as you can in daily life. If you get that right, you will find your children are more likely to speak well in their own lives – a hugely important trait to have.
Work
What you do for a living – and how you approach it – is something that likewise significantly affects how your children view you, and how they are likely to behave in the future themselves. There are a couple of things to bear in mind here – first of all, you might want to aim to have a job that is somehow rewarding and which gives back to the community, such as social care. Your child seeing you getting health and social care apprenticeships could really inspire them, especially if you also approach your work with diligence and care.
Relationships
Are you happy with the way you engage with the other people in your life? How you do this is going to affect your child’s view of you in a considerable manner, and it’s going to be something that imprints on how they behave throughout the rest of their life too. Make sure you are being as good in your relationships as you would hope to be. For instance: ensure that you are as honest and have as much integrity as you would expect your children to have. As long as you do that, you will be setting the right kind of impression.
Finances
The last thing you want is for your child to be destitute and penniless! They are going to have a much better sense of how to look after their own finances if you show that it can be done, so that is something you might want to bear in mind. Be sensible with your own money, don’t overspend, always stick to your budget, and you’ll be doing wonders in terms of getting your children to do the same in their own adult life. This is one of the most important things you can do for them.
