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What Does it
Mean to Be a Good Role Model for Young People?
From time to time,
when you were growing up, you may have heard the phrase: "Do as
I say, not as I do." Often children are confronted with the
confusion at the difference between the guidance adults give them and
the way those same adults interact with others.
The behavior of
adults has a big impact on children. They see what you are doing.
When they admire and respect you, they model your behavior. They want
to be like the respected adults in their lives-mom, dad, teacher, or
youth minister, for example-the people they look up to and care
about. You could be one of those people. Knowing this, it is time to
look carefully at your own actions with the children and adults
around you.
Being a good role
model requires us to rethink some of the ways we act and interact.
Adults have a great deal of freedom in our society, and we take pride
in preserving that freedom. The freedom to act according to our
choices also includes the responsibility to appropriately restrict
our own actions. Sometimes putting limits on our own behavior can be
a powerful model for children-teaching them how to manage their own
wants and desires.
Here are some
examples of ways that adults can be good role models for children:
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Don't possess,
use, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while you are
in the presence of children. Be moderate in all use of alcohol.
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Don't possess,
use, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.
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Don't strike,
spank, shake, or slap children, youths, or other adults.
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Don't humiliate,
ridicule, threaten, or degrade children, youths, or other adults.
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Don't touch a
child, youth, or other adult in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.
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Don't bully others.
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Don't use
profanity or sexually explicit language in the presence of children
and/or youth and don't show sex-related pictures to children and youth.
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Don't do things
that deliberately hurt others.
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Never meet alone
with a child in a secluded area.
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Respect other
people's boundaries. Listen to and respect any person who says "no."
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Encourage group
activities and include others who are frequently left out.
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Speak kindly about
others and don't get drawn into gossip.
Children and young
people want to be like the adults in their lives-and they are always
watching. They will repeat what they hear and what they see. In order
to be a good role model, make sure that you are modeling for them how
to do things in a safe manner and how to interact with others in a
thoughtful and respectful manner.
Be someone whose
actions say to children "Do as I say and as I do." |
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