All of us would like to think of ourselves as possessing characteristics of a good role model for children. Unfortunately, role models are becoming scarce with today’s acceptable tolerance of misguided behaviors. For instance, one star athlete is arrested for rape, while another is charged with assault for a physical altercation against teammates. If you want to possess qualities of a good role model for children, you must first look past these misguided and often out of control athletes or superstars and look at the most important daily contacts of those influencing children. People directly affecting the lives of children who possess the good characteristics of being a positive role model are parents, teachers, and police officers.
Because parents are at the very center of a child’s daily activities they are the starting point from which good role model characteristics such as respect, communication, and involvement are created. First, children learn at an early age how to act by simply watching their parents.
Therefore, to seek respectful behaviors from a child a parent starts out displaying the same respectful behavior to the child first and then has the child model that behavior back to the parent. Secondly, parents who are able to keep the lines of communication between them and their children open help to create in their children a good well-rounded set of values that motivates children to understand and learn from their parents. Finally, the ability to praise your children for accomplishments if older, or sharing his toys and playthings with other children if younger, gives them incentives to keep up the good work. Children are often looking for acceptance, and when the parents accommodate this need through praise or rewards it encourages the child to keep up the good work.
Teachers possess characteristics such as building confidence, motivation for academic achievement, and sensitivity for the overall care for children