Photo/ GodChildEveryone has a few bad habits we need to surrender, but it's often our day-to-day actions that our children pick up the quickest — and can mimic to perfection.
From how you talk to your spouse about how you talk on the phone, anything you can do your child can (and will) do better. So while it's exhausting to always be on your best behavior, here are a few actions to check yourself on because your children are sure to copy them.
Using Phone Manners
How and when we talk on our phones gets passed along to our littlest mimickers. If you ever want to see how you look while talking on the phone, hand your kid a pretend phone and watch. We guarantee that what you'll witness afterward is a reflection of you.
Speaking to Others
If you want to hear how you sound when speaking to others, listen in on your child's playtime. It'll provide you with some good insight on your own behaviors.
Speaking Politely
Show me a child who is polite and I'll show you the parent whom he mimics.
Using Free Time
Children are genuinely interested in what their parents are doing, so if you spend all of your free time in front of the TV or computer, chances are your child will too.
Making Fun of Others
Joking around with your spouse about the way someone at the mall is dressed may seem innocent enough until your child does it. And then it seems way more mean-spirited.
Swearing
Yes, kids hear colorful language at school, but their main source of the foul language is their parents.
Saying "Like" or "Um"
Nothing shows you your linguistic tendencies until you have a small child who, like, speaks exactly, um, as you do. You know?
Practicing Spirituality
Will your children follow your religion your whole life? Maybe not. But chances are that if you provide a spiritual example for your children, they'll mimic your relationship with your religion.