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Hom Topic Featured e s Articles Why are Role Models Important for Children No matter how much a person admires himself/herself, there is always at least one person we really admire and tend to imitate - even if, at times, we might not like the person completely. This human tendency of imitating others we look up to , plays a greater role in conditioning children, especially teenagers. Here s why role models are so important for children.

!ike sponges, children eagerly soak up "ehavioral and personality traits from their surroundings. #hildren unknowingly "ehave or act like the person they are fascinated with or think is cool , learn appropriate "ehavior and try to ac$uire admira"le $ualities from them. The individuals they try to imitate intentionally "ecome their role models. The reason why role models are important for children is "ecause it is these role models that either inspire and motivate the children, or discourage and admonish them, there"y shaping their character and personality as adults. The following e%tract from &dgar 'uest s poem The Living Sermon, "est descri"es the importance of role models for children( "One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold; One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear, For right living s eaks a lang!age which to every one is clear. Tho!gh an able s eaker charms me with his elo"!ence, # say, #$d rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day." Importance of Role Models for Children %erce tion of Life #hildren are known to "e very keen o"servers and once they latch on to something, it is more than likely to stay with them for life. They tend to look at life through the eyes of the person they are close to or want to "e like. )f their role model is optimistic, there are more chances of them looking at a glass as half-filled, than if that role model was pessimistic. The role model "ecomes their standard of measurement or idol . *o how they perceive themselves is "ased on how similar they are to their role model or how the role model looks at them. %ersonality and &ttit!de

+ecause they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adapt the personality traits and attitude of their role models. The response of their role models to a certain situation or circumstance, often determines the course of action the child will take. #hildren learn to like or dislike certain things "y gauging the personality and attitude of the people they admire. &s irations and &mbitions ,ne reason why children keep changing their answers for what would you like to "e when you grow up is "ecause they are influenced -inspired or disgusted. "y individuals in a certain field. How far they are willing to go, how much they are ready to put in and what they think they need to do to fulfill their dreams, depends on the determination -or lack of it. shown "y their role model. Social 'elationshi s /an is said to "e a social animal "ut not all animals are domestic. The point here is that children view the social relationships -family or pu"lic., mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their e%pression of their feelings are many times a reflection of their role model s outlook. Importance of Parents as Role Models According to a study conducted "y the !os Angeles #ounty 0epartment of Health *ervice in 1221, it was found that around 345 of adolescents identified with the role models . ,ut of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models hadhigher selfesteem and were better at academics as compared to those who didn t. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistica"out their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them. #hildren with positive role models are more motivated and have a higher drive to achieve. They are "etter at understanding their priorities in life and "alancing themselves accordingly. #hildren "enefit more from their role models, if they are in personal contact with them and if that role model is someone they see every day, the positive impact is greatly increased. ,ne reason for this could "e "ecause, a role model is human and will fail or go wrong at some point in life. )f the children know the circumstances leading to the fall closely, they are less likely to feel disappointed and a firsthand knowledge of the conse$uences of the mistake will serve as sufficient warning to avoid the same pitfall. That is why, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life instead of a rose-tinted one. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life "ecause they have seen their parents do it "efore. They find a sense of sta"ility and security knowing that they will overcome failures 6ust like their parents "efore them. +esides, it "ecomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children and also keep negative influences -peer pressure included. at "ay, if they are the role models. Hence, it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have lesser "ehavioral issues. /any psychologists "elieve that over 735 of an individual s "ehavior is learned "y imitation or modeling of those around him/her, mostly in childhood and adolescence. This fact alone is enough to emphasi8e the importance of "eing a good role model for children, plus the relation "etween positive role models and children. ,ne very important thing to keep in mind a"out role models for children is that what the children might not learn through repeated instructions, they will $uickly adapt through e%ample.

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