Wordless Wednesday: Children See, Children Do

Attitude, Children, Family Relationship, Kids, Parenting, Positive influence, Reflection, Value, Youtube's Video

Wordless Wednesday: Children See, Children Do

bk
October 14, 2009

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
– James Baldwin –
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Many years ago while attending a training, someone told me, “Children don’t do things you told them to do, they do what they saw you doing.” It certainly was one of those ‘aha’ moments. Simply put – children see, children do.

If you have kids of your own or have spent time with kids, then I’m sure you can recall how they have always tried to imitate you; whether it is the thing you are saying or things you are doing. Most of the time we would find their imitations funny and adorable to us.

What if they imitate our violent acts or our rude cursing and swearing at each other? That wouldn’t be very funny and adorable right?

If we ever hope to build a world where people love and care for each other, where people show loving kindness, compassion and respect toward each other, then we have to do it from young. We have to inculcate in the young to love and care for each other, to show loving kindness, compassion and respect toward each other. But how can we hope to influence them with such positive values if we act otherwise?

In other words, we must start first with ourselves.

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44 thoughts on “Wordless Wednesday: Children See, Children Do”

  1. AmyMusings

    I saw this video yesterday. It was so upsetting to watch when the parents got violent! And the kid followed along! Or drank or smoked. I felt a little sick when I watched it and thankful that I didn’t grow up with parents that were rotten. I thanked my lucky stars all I got were boring and predictable. Apparently I could have done MUCH worse!
    .-= AmyMusings´s last blog ..The Jesus Guy Stole my Bike =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ AmyMusings, I just saw the video this afternoon. It was indeed upsetting to see the kids following what their parents did; being violent, drinking, smoking, feeling of indifference toward others etc.

  2. MushaMommy

    I agree.. I have a 6 year old son and growing up, he always repeats the words he hears (from everybody) and his mannerisms reflect how we act. I think to them, if done by adults then it must be correct.

    Happy WW!
    .-= MushaMommy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday 11 =-.

  4. Gattina

    This video is so true, unfortunately ! How often do I see parents cross the street by red light or throwing things on the ground.
    .-= Gattina´s last blog .. =-.

  6. Symphony of Love Post author

    @ MushaMommy, you made a very good point; children are looking for approval from adults and what is the best way to get approval? Of course to them it may be as simple as, ‘if they are doing it, so it’ll be alright if I do it too.’

    @ Buckeroomama, you are absolutely right and that is why the transformation must come from us first; within ourselves. 🙂

    @ Gattina, yes, if adults can be conscious of the things they are doing especially in front of children. In fact, if one conducts the same way with or without children in front of them, then they don’t have to watch their behaviours when they are in front of children.

    @ Daddy Forever, repeating the words that you used can be just as bad especially when the words are not desirable. 😉

  8. Pam

    This video made me sad to watch. It’s so true that we must model the correct behavior all the time because someone is always watching our actions.
    I know I am far from a perfect parent, but I do want my children to be able to copy my actions.
    .-= Pam´s last blog ..Mounds of Fun =-.

  9. Melanie B

    I haven’t seen this and yet I’m always amazed at how much people don’t realize. Children learn by mimicking. Sometimes good and sometimes bad.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Staci, indeed it is true to a large extent.

      @ Pam, as the saying goes, “we are watching you,” we should indeed conduct ourselves in a proper socially acceptable way at all time, regardless of whether we are in front of children or not. Buckeroomama made a very good comment above. She said, “…we should be on good behaviour regardless of whether anyone is watching us.” No one parent is perfect, we can only strive to be a better parent.

      @ Melanie, we will be alright with the good but the bad is always not desirable.

      @ Pamela, I’m just as glad that most of us don’t behave the way the folks did in the video. 🙂

      @ Brooke, come to think of it, it is quite sad indeed that they have to make a video like this; it simply means that there are parents who do not realise this yet. Just as it is sad to watch, it also serves as a powerful visual message.

  16. Symphony of Love Post author

    @ Felicia, yes, it does make me stop and think about the little things that we are doing in front of kids.

    @ VanillaSeven, yes, leading by example. 🙂

    @ Gabriel, I couldn’t have said it better than you. The video can indeed be disturbing and upsetting. But it certainly drives home the message.

  20. Symphony of Love Post author

    @ Pat, probably we learn that since young. Because even when we are adults now, we may still copy other once in a while. I couldn’t imagine how your daughter might have looked; imitating your aunt’s movements. 🙂

    @ Jude, yes you are right, watching that video will give us many good reasons to do better in parenting. 🙂

    @ Julia, it is a powerful video indeed. Glad that you like it. 🙂

  23. Bonnie

    This video was a very good reminder to treat others as we would like to be treated. I feel if more adults were positive role models, then the next generation would be better. I see all to often generation and generation of following the same example. Koolaid and chips for breakfast, early pregnancy, frequent STD’s, bad language and much, much more. I do not know how to break the cycle other than repeated education hoping it will sink in.
    .-= Bonnie´s last blog ..Types of Miscarriages =-.

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Bonnie, you are right, we have to start from the young if we ever hope to have a better world. Although repeated education is important, individual awakening is even more important. Some people no matter what they have been through or heard, they will not change easily. But some people, with a little reminder, they will change for the better. I hope this video will reach more of these people who need a little reminder.

      @ Jendi, yes, the bad things in the video did drive home a powerful message … I hope.

      @ Melissa, a gentle reminder to all parents and to myself too. Thank you for stopping by too.

  27. Sue

    Very powerful video. Seems so true. You are seeing children being more and more violent in today’s society, they must be getting it from somewhere. Thanks for sharing this.

  30. Sukhmandir Kaur

    It’s so true, we need to be living example of what we’d like to see, not only for children but every one around us. It can be a real challenge, but one worth the effort.

  35. DorothyyL

    Fantastic awareness video and post.

    I have always said how confusing our life priorities are when a person has to have a license to fish or hunt but anyone can have a child….

    We are most definitely the ones responsible for the monsters we create within our children.

    Too many parents ignore or play the denial game when their children grow up with totally misdirected ideas and habits. They will look for anyone but themselves to blame:(

    1. Symphony of Love Post author

      @ Dorothy, you are right; we are definitely responsible for the monsters we created in our children and usually most will blame anyone else other than themselves.