Parents always complain that children don’t listen to them, but they never fail to imitate their parents!! Children always learn more by seeing than by hearing. Therefore, husband and wife should never fight in the presence of their children.

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” — Robert Fulgham

“Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.”

“Children learn more from what you are, than what you teach.” — W.E.B. Du Bois

A message every adult should read, because children are watching you, doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn’t looking… 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in Him. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should share with those who don’t. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be. 

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know, to be a good, caring and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

“Children are mirrors, they reflect back to us all we say and do.”

— Pam Leo 

We do a lot of things during the course of a day, but think that no one ever sees or bothers about it. 

Little eyes see a lot.

The formative years of children are very important. They have a very impressionable mind. They may not be able to speak properly, but they very quickly learn and absorb mostly by hearing and especially by observing. 

Each of us (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, friends) influences the life of a child. At a tender age, a child should only be exposed to the right values, manners, habits etc., at home, school and other places, to help it grow into a good person, to make up the future generation that will shape the world.

“Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.” — James Dobson 

“History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.” — Nelson Mandela    

Children are one third of our population and all of our future. 

How can we touch the life of someone today? Just by making the people around us at least think about their influence on others.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.