Modelling Behaviours for our Kids
Last week I did something completely outside my comfort zone – surfing.
I’m lucky enough to live not far from Adventure Parc Snowdonia which has a man-made surfing lagoon filled with fresh water from the mountains.
Issue #1 = the water is very cold. My friends and family know that I don’t swim unless the weather is hot and the water is warm like a bath. However, I was assured the wetsuits are very effective and I was lucky that it turned out to be a lovely warm spring day. And the information was correct – the wetsuits are very effective.
Issue #2 = I’m also not a terribly strong swimmer – I can swim, but not for great distances. That’s OK, I was told, the lagoon has a reef which you can stand on whilst you get yourself set to catch the wave.
Issue #3 = … catch the wave? Seriously? Me?! I don’t think so…
You may be wondering why on earth I agreed to this when I clearly wasn’t into it. Well, I agreed because I have a friend asked me to do it. So I went along…
I am converted.
I LOVED it.
The wetsuit was excellent. I was able to easily handle myself in the water. I got a full body strength workout. I even managed to almost stand up! I felt AMAZING!
So, the point to this story is, surfing was totally NOT on my radar as something I EVER wanted to do. BUT, I had a reason to stretch myself and I’m so very glad I did. I found another activity I really enjoy and gets those endorphins buzzing in my body.
My kids already enjoy (sort-of) surfing and my small-girl-child was so amazed and proud that Mummy likes surfing now, too.
And that’s the best bit actually. My daughter is proud of me.
I showed her that even though I didn’t really fancy doing that thing, I did it anyway. I pushed myself, beyond what I might normally do.
Kids repeat what they hear and imitate what they see.
Hopefully, from this (super-fun) little scenario, I’ve demonstrated a lesson they’ll remember. If they push themselves a little bit, amazing things can happen.
So now we can have ‘family’ surfing fun – so cool!
5 Ways you can model good behaviours
- Challenge yourself to do new things. Some you’ll love, some you won’t…
- Remember your manners. Seems simple enough. Speak to each other respectfully, show kindness and listen to others. It’s believed that ‘social skills’ is the number one attribute of successful people.
- Eat well and exercise. They really do go hand in hand. Talk about good food choices. In a perfect world, meal times should be spent together as a family. And try to exercise together too! It’s way more fun that way.
- Organisation. Tidy up; make sure ‘things’ have ‘homes’. Show children how to be organised and it will become a habit, which also helps with the ability to organise your thoughts.
*Disclaimer*
I use various sources to write these news articles including the NHS (UK & Scotland), the Australian Govt. Dept. of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), Harvard University childhood health articles and what I experience as a mum.