Be a Role Model

Family Role Models

Use family photos to tell children stories about family members who model one or more traits that you admire. Explain why each story is important to you and how they were role models for you. Tell at least one story about your children and the traits or behaviors that make them good role models for you. For example, describe a time when you saw them sharing their toys or comforting a friend.

Ask your children to help you create a bulletin board or scrapbook of role models. They could choose anyone: family, friends, community members, people in the news or in history, or characters from a book or in a TV show. Ask your children to help you write a caption under each picture that explains why that person is a role model.

Model Reading

Children who like to read are much more likely to succeed in school and in the workplace than those who don’t. Reading sparks the imagination, stretches the brain, provides comfort, broadens problem-solving strategies, and provides a way to use free time well. Let your children see you read books, talk about books you’ve read or hope to read, and share books with others. They will want to do the same.

Set aside time each day to read with your child. Talk about what you’ve read. Ask about what they think will happen next in the story or why certain characters acted as they did. Then give your child the book and pick up one of your own. Depending upon your child’s independence and reading ability, read silently to yourselves for a set period of time. Afterward, share what you’ve read. Gradually, lengthen the time period as your child’s interest and ability to focus grows.

Make A Role Model

Have your children lie down on large pieces of paper. Draw their outline. Give them magic markers and buttons or pieces of material to draw their features onto the outline. Younger children may need help.

Then, ask your children to tell you about qualities or abilities they have and would like to have. Write what they say on the picture in the margin. When they explain what makes characters or friends “favorites,” add that to the picture. Talk with them about why they would want to imitate these behaviors. Point out that when you or they demonstrate one of these traits or behaviors, you or they are acting as a role model for others.

Put the picture where you and your children can see and add to it over time. When you or your children model the traits or behaviors illustrated on the picture, congratulate each other on positive role modeling.