Copycats?

Do you remember irritating your friends, siblings and sometimes even your parents by copying everything they said.  It was a game when it first started, but after awhile it became annoying.  Have your children ever played that little game with you?

Children are natural copycats.  They imitate everything that they see.  It is how they learn...they have to try it out for themselves.  They also want to grow up and be just like their parents which makes the parent very proud.

Sometimes though, the things they learn are not exactly what we want them to learn:

• bad habits
• using bad language
• showing anger
• breaking the law
• stealing

Those are some extreme examples, but think about it for a minute...we ask them to pick up their toys or clean up their room, but we fail to put things away when we are finished with them.  We talk about the dangers of drugs, smoking or overeating, but we indulge in our habits and say, "don't do what I do".  Our language is sometimes less than "God-pleasing", but we just tell our children that those words are only for adults...really?  We show our anger by yelling and screaming and maybe slamming doors or even walking out, but if our child shows a temper they are disciplined and punished.  We talk about obeying the law, but push the speed limits because?????  We talk about honesty and respecting others and their belongings, but we don't think anything about not telling the cashier that they gave us too much change or taking an item or two from work because they'll never miss it.

You would be surprised at how often some of these things are displayed in the child care setting.  When I talk to the child about what occurred I often ask "where did you see that behavior" or "where did you hear those words".  Sadly they often respond by saying "from my daddy or my mommy".


Have you ever held your child accountable for something you failed to do yourself?  We will be much more influential in the lives of our children if we practice what we preach. Why? Because our kids know when we're being hypocritical! When we complain that they do not treat us with respect, we need to be willing to ask ourselves if our actions and attitudes are worthy of their respect.
Do you want your kids to copy your behavior?

Even though your child may spend the major part of their waking hours in daycare or school, you...the parent...are still the greatest influence on your child.  You are the one they are most likely to emulate.

It is difficult to break habits, especially those that you yourself may have grown up with and learned from your parent.  It is time to break that cycle though and for your child's sake live a life that is worthy of copying.  God bless you as you strive to do that and as you raise your little "copycats"!


God's Words of wisdom in Romans 2:21

21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?