ADVICE ON TEACHING YOUR CHILD....CHILDREN LEARN BY EXAMPLE

He stomped the frog, and.........we all looked at the brown spot on the sidewalk in disbeleif!
He was our 4 year old son, and we were shocked when we saw the baby frog on the side walk, and he nonchalantly went over and stomped it to death right before our eyes.
When his dad asked why he had done that, and he replied "wanted to", my husband promptly turned him over his knee and spanked him.
The words he said to him my son who is now 23 still remembers.

He said" Son, don't you ever kill something just for the thrill of killing it. If you kill any living thing, be prepared to eat it, unless you are defending yourself from harm.

A little frog might seem like a small thing, but I am so glad my husband saw the importance of such an act.
My son has never forgot it, and he has carried those words with him to this day. He learned a valuble lesson that day, and certainly gained some respect for his dad.

I think that part of the problem with our kids and violence is, most of the time they do not have to suffer the consequences of their actions.

And there is an ever growing opinion that spanking teaches violence. Hogwash! Spanking in an acceptable manner is o.k., and lets the child suffer the consequences of their actions.

Violence is taught when you've had a bad day at work, and come home and beat your child for no reason. This teaches violence because the child sees that the abuser gets a form of pleasure , even tho the child has done nothing wrong to suffer for.

There is a BIG difference.And society must take part of the responsibility for the violence we allow our children to witness.

We do not make our children accountable anymore, and this presents big problems. Parents and those in authority who do not punish for misbehavior because "they are just kids", are sending a dangerous message to our young.

What can you do?

Make sure young people around you know that there will be reactions for their actions. They sooner we learn this in life, the better we will be.

And don't be foolish enough to tell your child that violence is unacceptable, without showing them proper ways to vent their anger.
Anger left to fester will breed violence, for sure.

Don't just prohibit violent television in your home, its a big mistake I have seen parents make.
Watch a few of the less violent shows together, and point out the violence and how wrong it is as you are watching together.

Your child will soon be choosing not to watch those kind of shows on their own, with your early, gentle guidance.But remember, we cannot just tell our young, we must show them!

If you tell them how much you hate violence, and then run your fist thru the wall when you are angry, you have lost your credibility, and who is better to teach your child values? It is up to you, will you set the good example or the bad one?

Choose carefully, because YOU do set an example...ONE or the OTHER!!