When Joe DiMaggio was asked why he placed such high importance on excellence, he said, "There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time. I owe him my best." As adults we are always watching kids but do we realize how much kids are watching us? Your kids are always watching you. You do owe them your best. And your best starts with being a good role model.
Children spend an average of six hours a day in front of the TV. That's six hours when you are not connecting with them. If we are not connecting with them, what kind of messages and “role models” are our kids being exposed to? Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich might be the fourth out of the state's last eight governors to go to jail. It's not a legacy Abraham Lincoln would have wanted his state to have. But the problem is bigger than modern-day Illinois politicians. It seems that character is in short-supply all over America. Whether it's athletes, politicians, actors, businessmen or even clergy, it seems our kids have slim pickings when it comes to role models.
Here are the facts:
Research shows that young people are more likely to exhibit positive, responsible behavior when they have parents and other adults in their lives who model positive, responsible behavior. Having good role models is one of the greatest desires of most young people. However, only 24 percent of Washington County young people, ages 11–18, say their parents and other adults model positive, responsible behavior, according to Search Institute’s Attitudes & Behavior survey conducted in 2006. Let’s all try a little harder to “practice what we preach” for the sake of our kids.
Tips for building this asset:
Young people often don’t understand what a role model is so talk openly about role models with young people.
Start here:
- Who was your role model growing up?
- Who is your role model now as an adult?
- Who is a role model for your child?
- Challenge kids to be a good role model for younger siblings.
- Get to know yourself more. What are you good at? What do you struggle with?
- Be intentional about how you impact and interact with youth.
- Notice how you treat the mistakes you make.
- Think of children as a mirror that is reflecting everything you do.
- Pay attention to behaviors children pick up from other adults.
What are kids learning from you? As adults, we hope they're picking up good habits and learning how to be caring, principled people. Yet, no one is perfect. We have our strengths and our weaknesses. All of us have the opportunity to be a role model for kids. Are you being your best for the youth of Washington County? Just remember you never know when they will be watching.