Children Learn What They Live, By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Before my son was born, when we were doing our parenting classes at the John Hunter Hospital, this (the above) was given as a handout to all expectant parents, I really liked it and it stuck with me, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Dorothy Law Nolte was an American writer, she wrote a column in a newspaper about raising children and she was family counselor who was born in 1924 and died in 2005.  – also I’d just like to point out that she wrote this in 1972!