Children practice what you preach. The most effective preaching is not words, because small children do not have the vocabulary sophistication to understand our heart felt lectures. The best preaching is modelling. Children practice what they see you do.

Almost two years ago I quit smoking. A late bloomer, I had only smoked for five years. I loved it though. It legitimised me having a break from work and I thought and reflected while I smoked. Sophisticated in cognitions, I knew that smoking was BAD for me. I wanted to be healthy but I liked what smoking gave me. I tried unsuccessfully to quit but the pull of those blessed minutes of a work break were stronger than my will power.

Napcan introduced a new program: Children See, Children Do. After watching the commercial of children copying their parents, including a child smoking the way her mother did, I hung the fags up and I have not ever reconsidered having a smoke. Witnessing the little girl practising what her mother was preaching spoke to me. I heard, “Smoking is child abuse.” That worked for me!

Consider your every preaching movement around your children. What do they see you preaching via your behaviours and habits. Are you so very busy that you run around like a chook with its head cut off (that’s a yes from me I am ashamed to say). Do you cover over your emotions because you are too immature and emotionally constipated to deal with them? Do you have double standards where you are lovely to people one minute and treat them abysmally the next?  Are you angry all the time, robbed of joy, creativity and support networks? Are you a practising parent or are you a preaching parent: a parent who uses words that have little meaning to a young child.

I aim to be a practising parent. How about you? Make your influence positive because child protection begins with you, not with the government.

Photo from stock.xchng