Do what I say and what I do

 Do what I say and what I do 

Children learn to imitate from an early age. This is how they learn to behave, take care of themselves, develop new skills, and communicate with others. From their first moments, they closely monitor you and model their behavior and beliefs on yours. Your examples become permanent images, shaping their attitudes and actions for the rest of their lives. 

Being responsible, consistent, and loving with your child is important. This also applies to the relationship that you have with your spouse, parents, other family members, and friends who are also part of your child’s life. Recognize the mistakes you are making and communicate openly and honestly with the whole family.  

It is also important to take good care of yourself. When we focus on what is best for our child, it is easy to neglect our own needs. Your child and your family depend on you physically and emotionally, so it is necessary to teach your child by example that taking care of yourself helps you take care of him and the rest of your family. Show your child that you love not only you and the rest of the family but also yourself. This is an important step in teaching your child self-esteem. This may include finding a babysitter and treating yourself to dinner and a movie, or doing another favorite activity on your own. This teaches your child that you are not just his parents, but your person with your interests and needs, and also allows him to show you how much he can do without you with him for a while. 

It is also important to maintain your relationship with your spouse. Let your child see you communicate positively and healthily with each other, and show love and affection for each other so that your child can start learning early what a healthy marriage should look like.  

You will soon see your child modeling many of his behaviors on yours. So make sure that what you say and do about your child will help create a strong sense of security and self-esteem.