Children's Behavior Is a Reflection of Parental Behavior

Medical Video: Change HABITS In Children: Ep 12 Soul Reflections: BK Shivani (English Subtitles)

"Children see, children do" are the last words from a video released by childfriendly.org.au. The video takes movement from the child's spouse and parents. All the children in the video mimic everything done by the adults who were used as role models. Starting from smoking, calling while walking, to carrying out domestic violence activities. However, at the end of the video, there were adults and children who helped someone pick up groceries from other people who had fallen on the road. There is one abstract feeling that arises, between sadness and emotion, seeing children really mimic all the behavior of their role models. But is it true that what parents do can influence children's behavior?

Children have mimicked the behavior of adults since infancy

Children begin to imitate adults even from babies. A baby sees facial expressions from his parents to later learn to show these expressions, according to G. Gergely and J. S. Watson. This is certainly useful for the future in socializing, because what is shown by children is a form of learning outcomes from what is taught by their parents.

Parents who show antisocial behavior will also create children with antisocial behavior, according to researchers from the University of Chicago. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University also participated in strengthening the results of previous research. The research conducted by Dogan, Conger, Kim, and Masyn concluded that antisocial behavior in children arises from the results of observations and interpretations of parental behavior. Children see what their parents display in their behavior and they imitate it, because according to the child it is normal in social life outside the home. This effect occurs stably, and this is the problem, especially in adolescents, evidenced in 12th graders who have actually maintained this antisocial behavior from 9th grade.

What happens if a child sees his parents physically fighting

When children see physical fights from their parents, children don't just feel sad. According to Sandra Brown, one expert in children's education, a child who witnesses violence, especially in his loved ones, can make children experience distrust in others. Later, children will use violence as a way to show their strength, because according to children, relying on others indicates weakness and disability so violence becomes a way to show their dominance. In addition, showing violence to children results in children being unable to express themselves well through words. This can result in children becoming more difficult to work with.

How to give examples of good behavior for children?

However, don't worry, because not only the bad ones, children also imitate the good deeds done by their parents. By being a friendly and tolerant parent, you can set an example for children to take the same action. According to a Harvard psychologist, providing a model for behavior for children can give children a reference to what is good and not. That way, parents need to show a lot of friendly and warm behavior to others in the hope that children can apply it too.

One easy but warm and good action is the habit of saying "thank you" every time you get help. Without realizing it, a child will imitate that action from his parents. Always give appreciation to children for whatever they do, even though this is a small thing. Providing them with an understanding of the other side of each story can also make children more tolerant.

What children see can be the basis for children to behave. Although basically the formation of behavior is the result of a complicated process, between biology and the environment which is not only the family environment. Children also tend to imitate the behavior they see not only from their parents' behavior, but what they watch, their friends, and their teachers at school. The role of parents is needed in shaping the initial character of their children by providing good examples so that children can grow up to be children who can function socially well.

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