6 Good Habits Kids Learn Best by Example

When I was a few months pregnant my second child, I started noticing that my two-year-old son would grunt every time he bent over to pick something up. And then it hit me; he was mimicking the noises I would make as I waddled around the house picking up his toys. It was at that moment that I realized just how perceptive kids are and how much they learn through the actions of others. Wanting to raise my children to the best of my abilities, I’ve decided to try and teach them these 6 good habits through example.

I received compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. 

6 Good Habits Kids Learn Best by Example

1. Loving others: I remember growing up in a home where I would see my parents show their love through holding hands, hugging, and occasionally kissing. Although as a small kid I thought it was absolutely disgusting, I’ve come to appreciate this love that they showed to each other. This lesson taught me to choose kindness over violence when interacting with friends, siblings, relatives, and peers.

2. Serving: I was blessed to be raised by parents who served others daily. I constantly witnessed acts of kindness such as taking dinner to neighbors or baking cookies for the mailman. Trying to involve our whole family in service, my parents were able to teach me that true happiness is felt when making others happy.

3. Brushing teeth: Although making your children brush their teeth can be a difficult chore, I’ve found that if my children notice me brushing my teeth, they often ask if they can brush theirs as well.

4. Using kind words: My three-year-old is like a parrot in the sense that I constantly hear him repeating the words that come out of my mouth. Because I find him using a lot of my same phrases, I’ve had to re-evaluate my language. I find that when I make a conscience effort to speak kindly, I hear him repeating these same words of love.

5. Washing hands: Washing hands with your children (and allowing them to see you wash your hands) helps them always remember the importance of scrubbing away those germs.

6. Applying sunscreen: I’ve spent the past three summers living in the Arizona heat. Wanting to protect my entire family from the sun, I’ve come to realize the importance of daily sunscreen application – for both parents and kids.

Did you know that even just 1-2 bad sunburns as a child almost doubles your risk of skin cancer? Neutrogena realizes the importance of sun protection for the entire family. That’s why Neutrogena has launched its #MimicMommy campaign, designed to encourage mothers to use sunscreen in front of their children; afterall the best way for kids to learn sun-safe habits is by watching parents apply sunscreen on themselves.

In honor of the #MimicMommy campaign, Neutrogena has teamed up with Kristen Bell to create this comical video rallying parents about the best way to have “The Talk” with their kids. For every video share, Neautrogena will donate $1 (up to $15,000) to the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Fund. So hurry, watch this video and share!

What healthy habits would you add to the list?