Parenting 101: The bad habits you are passing onto your children

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What do you want to pass down to your children? Your home? The family business? Your jewellery? Your collection of antique plates and ornaments? What about your short temper? Or your lack of patience? Or your impulsive spending?

Believe it or not, most of us are passing bad habits onto our children without even realising it. We’re all products of the environment we grew up in. Of course, we can all change if we choose to, but setting your child up with the right habits now and allowing them to grow up heavily influenced by positive behaviours is a much better option.

If you’re aware of the bad habits your children could be picking up, then you may be more inclined to change them, not just for your sake but for theirs. Here we’ll explore the bad habits that you could be passing onto your children.

Smoking

Smoking is a terrible habit that shortens your life expectancy and leaves you susceptible to diseases like cancer and heart disease. If you smoke at home then chances are, your children will also pick up your smoking habit. The best option here is to quit. Or swap to a safer alternative such as vaping – click the link for a range of vape liquid flavours to help get you started on your vaping journey. Vaping gives the user the nicotine they crave but produces a fragrant vapour instead of toxic smoke that causes so many life-threatening diseases.

Not being present

You’re the most important thing in your child’s life, but if you’re simply not present, then you’re falling short of their expectations and letting them down. Remember to put your smartphone down and connect with your little ones. Yes, they might want to talk to you about their favourite cartoon character or toy, but you should still show interest.

Remember, your child might be happy with the latest toys and gadgets, but they’d much rather spend time with you.

Not eating healthily

Has your child ever seen you cook a meal from scratch? Or do they think that meals simply arrive at the house ready-made and in a box? We all love the convenience of fast food and ready meals, but you’re setting a bad example for your child. Knowing how to cook tasty meals using fresh ingredients is vital for your child’s development and understanding of the world. Your child needs to understand the importance of eating healthily and only enjoying other foods as a treat.

Being unkind

It might be a sarcastic comment, or you might be making a little joke to your partner about someone at work but displays of unkindness can plant the seed of indifference in your child’s mind. If you show compassion and kindness, then your child will apply the same habits to their life. If you need to vent to someone about that jerk at the office, do so out of earshot of your little ones!

Final thoughts…

Do any of these sound familiar? Recognising your bad habits now can help give your child a better start in life!