{"id":594223,"date":"2022-07-27T11:47:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T15:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canstaging.earthrangers.com\/?p=592157"},"modified":"2022-09-18T21:54:29","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T01:54:29","slug":"theyre-always-watching-the-power-of-modelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/parenting-blog\/theyre-always-watching-the-power-of-modelling\/","title":{"rendered":"They\u2019re always watching \u2013 the power of modelling."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve got to come clean. When I received the news I was losing my job, I sort of freaked out. It wasn\u2019t a huge, messy scene but I would have liked time to regain my composure. The email about funding cuts came in while I was tapping away on my computer in my remote work station known as the dining room table. There was no time to process the news on the commute home before I walked in the door to greet my family.<\/strong> My daughter was upstairs doing homework when she heard my cry of alarm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve had enough lessons over the years raising three children to know how closely kids watch a parent\u2019s reaction to pretty well everything. They may look distracted when you\u2019re fuming in a long line-up or processing some difficult news, but chances are, they\u2019re tucking away that memory in a long list of daily observations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, you\u2019d be excused if that sounds like a lot of pressure. It\u2019s hard to be scrutinized on most days, never mind when you\u2019re not having your best moment. And of course, as parents, we want to raise happy and emotionally healthy children. Many of us would rather our kids see us with our act together and keep the vulnerability behind closed doors<\/strong>. Problem is, it\u2019s not always a realistic plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news here is this works both ways! Our children are also watching when we recycle, ask questions about climate change, volunteer our time or share a kind word with a neighbour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent research shows modelling is an effective way to influence child behaviour and life choices. For example, it\u2019s believed the majority of students attending post-secondary had at least one parent who also pursued academics after high school. The same goes for eco-friendly habits. If a parent is an avid composter and let\u2019s say, a fan of green energy, it can impact a child\u2019s worldview.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also an opportunity to tap into the power of modelling when things go wrong. So what to do when you\u2019re grappling with an issue in real time with eyes on you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n