If your teen babysits younger children, has younger siblings or other family members, or is visible in your community in any way, you have an opportunity to teach your teen how to be a good role model. Not only is teaching your teen about being a good role model an effective way to help your teen learn to manage his or her own behavior, but the sense of satisfaction and self esteem boost that your teen can gain from positively influencing another s life can bring enormous satisfaction to you both.
Teaching your teen to be a role model starts with helping your teen see the world through the eyes of the people who admire him or her. Younger siblings often idealize their older brothers and sisters, and when those older siblings make choices that clearly send a bad message, parents can use the opportunity to talk about how little eyes and ears are soaking up everything that happens around them.
There is a difference between forcing your teen to take responsibility for a younger sibling and allowing your teen an active role in aiding in the growth of younger children through becoming a role model. You have to help your teen see the benefit of the connection he or she can make with younger children.
The best way to teach your teen to be a good role model for the younger children in his or her life is to be a good role model for your teen. As you make choices and live a lifestyle that provides the right kind of example for your teen, you can help them see that they can make a difference by being a role model to others.
If you have a teen that is making poor choices, there is nothing wrong with pointing out to him or her the impact that is having on younger siblings or other family members. Help your teen see what behaviors are influential; when the teen uses foul language, makes a bad choice, refuses to do chores, or behaves disrespectfully, he or she is not just impacting you as the parent but providing an example to younger siblings. Ask your teen if he or she really wants a younger sibling to behave that way. This can be an effective approach with difficult teens because the teen is often more sensitive to the affect he or she has on a younger sibling than the affect the behavior has on you as a parent.
Teaching your teen to be a good role model can be a way for you to connect with your teen as well as keep your teen connected and involved with your family. When your teens knows there are little eyes watching and little ears listening, they will naturally monitor their own behavior a bit more strenuously. It is a great way to teach your teen to take an active role in making positive choices, preparing them for adulthood and eventual parenthood.
Author Resource:
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. To learn more go to http://www.parentingtodaysteenager.com/
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