As a parent, it is vital that you are constantly working to set the best example possible for your children. Your children are likely to copy your actions and repeat your outlook on life. By modelling the best behaviour possible, you will be ensuring that your children grow up to be sensitive, kind and positive individuals.
Fundraise for Charity
One of the top steps you can take to set a great example for your children is to fundraise for a charity. By fundraising, you will be able to take part in a fun activity while also obtaining the money that a charity you are passionate about needs to thrive. Fundraising can boost your self-esteem and give you purpose while also giving you the chance to help others. This means that you should consider completing runs and obstacle courses such as Tough Mudder for charity with Macmillan, especially if you are someone who enjoys staying fit. You might also look for fundraising opportunities that you can take part in with your children.
Show Kindness
Although you might be an incredibly kind person, you might not always have this kindness on display. To make sure that your kids see what kindness looks like in the real world, though, you should try to be as compassionate and generous as possible when you are out and about. For instance, you should have friendly conversations with the people around you, smile at others and help people who are struggling or in need. You might give up your seat for someone, aid someone with their shopping or buy food for a homeless person. You could also make it your goal to carry out a certain number of random acts of kindness each week.
Forgive Others
Rather than constantly getting angry at the slightest inconvenience, you should instead show your children how to manage their emotions by staying calm and collected. If someone else has been the cause of your frustration, you should also focus on solving the problem and forgiving them rather than bearing a grudge, as well as apologising if you are in the wrong. It is also important that you try to keep gossip away from your children and that you do not often bad-mouth others to your kids.
Have Great Self-Esteem
Sometimes, it can be easy to bemoan your appearance and talents and to feel inadequate. However, when you have children, you need to try and maintain a good sense of self-esteem that they can replicate for themselves. You can do this by talking about the parts of your body that you like, by being confident when you are talking to other people, and by trying not to pick holes in your abilities or put yourself down in front of your kids. Otherwise, they might start to pick up on this.
Be Polite
Politeness is important, and yet it can sometimes be lost in the chaos of everyday life. Then, you should try to make politeness a priority. You should try to hold doors open for people, show gratitude regularly and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. You might also try not to interrupt others and take part in active listening.
Georgina Monk
Since leaving university with an English and Creative Writing degree, Georgina has worked as a freelance copywriter, writing articles on everything from business technology to charitable giving. As well as running her own blog and performing in and writing plays, some of which have been staged in local theatres, she also volunteers at historical houses and enjoys watersports and getting out into nature.
