Kids don’t do what you say, they do what you do

Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. Parents and teachers often tell kids to be kind, honest, or hardworking, but if adults don't show these values in their own actions, children won't follow them.

For example, a parent may say, "Always tell the truth," But then lie to avoid something. The child learns that lying is sometimes okay. A teacher may tell students to stay calm, but if they often get angry, kids will think losing temper is normal.

I saw this happen with my niece. Her parents told her to be polite, but they often interrupted each other while talking. Soon, she started interrupting others too. When her parents realized this, they tried to change their own behaviour. After some time, she also became more polite.

The same happens with other habits. If parents spend too much time on their phones but tell their kids to read books, children won't listen. If a teacher tells students to respect others but talks badly about people, students will do the same.

The best way to teach children good values is to show them. If we want them to be kind, we must be kind. If we want them to be hardworking, we must work hard. Children don't need long talks about good behaviour. They need good examples to follow.

So next time you want to teach a child something, ask yourself: Am I doing this too? Because in the end, kids don't do what we say. They do what we do.