Teach Your Children By Example
The examples you show to your children, as well as the things they do, will have an impact on how they turn out as adults. The bad things that children do today will catch up with them when they become adults.
As the parent, you are responsible for teaching your children that everything they do comes with consequences. Children, especially teenagers, are easily influenced by the their peers and are likely to try out bad things like smoking, drinking alcohol and experimenting with drugs. Being short-sighted, impatient and headstrong, children are not able to see that engaging in these vices can negatively affect them, both in the short run and long run. They fail to fully understand how their actions can negatively affect their future.
It is never too early to teach your children how to make good decisions. Communicate to your children the dangers of smoking, drinking and drugs, as well as their consequences. Ask them what they thing and feel about these things and acknowledge their opinions and thoughts.
Instead of letting your children come and go as they please, ask them where they're headed, who are they going to be with and when they are going to be back. Your children will find this "nagging" annoying and they may even resent you for it, but as they grow older, they will come to understand that you are concerned about them and their safety.
Know who your children are spending their time with because these people can influence your children a great deal. It is very easy for children today to succumb to peer pressure because they want to fit in. As a parent, look out for your children and ensure that they don't hang out with the wrong crowd. Your children may again resent you for this, but keep in mind that your child may not see clearly their friends for what their truly are.
Of course, the most effective way you can teach your children to become good decision makers is to lead by example. For instance, you may tell your children of the dangers of smoking and its consequence, but they often see you with a lit cigarette when you are "relaxing." Think for a minute the kind of message you are sending to your children. Another example is you telling your children how important it is to eat healthy and exercise regularly. However, they would see you with a bag of chips, indulging in unhealthy foods and spending your days on the couch. This sends them a message that you aren't really serious about what you are telling them about health and exercise.
As a parent, strive to be a good example to your children. While this does not mean that you have to be perfect or be a saint, it does mean that you must show your children that you are practicing what you are preaching to them.
Resources
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