Model What You Want To See

Children do best when their caregiver models the behaviors they want to see.

If you want your child to say please and thank you, then you need to say please and thank you. This works with things you don't want as well. If you don't want your child to swear, then don't swear around them. Children are sponges. They take in everything they hear and see.

I see these underlying common conflicts. Parents often tell me they don't cry in front of their children or they won't fight with their partner in front of their children. This is surprisingly not always the healthiest option if you can be appropriate with your behavior when upset. When you angry, sad, frustrated, etc... you model how to feel that way to your children. That is how they learn to be angry, sad, frustrated, etc... If you can be appropriate when having a conflict with your partner, let them see so they can learn how to have healthy conflict.