Children learn what they live

I’ve started some voluntary work helping out at a summer play scheme, all the volunteers were given a poem which kind of acts as our ethos type thing regarding working with children. I thought I’d share it, as it doesn’t matter if you work with children or not I think this is important even if you just have younger relatives or whatever so here it is…

Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism
They learn to condemn
If children live with hostility
They learn to fight
If children live with ridicule
They learn to be shy
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 to be patient
If children live with praise
They learn to appreciate
If children live with acceptance
They learn to love
If children live with approval
They learn to like themselves
If children live with honesty
They learn truthfulness
If children live with security
They learn to have faith in themselves and others
If children live with friendliness
They learn that the world is a nice place in which to live

Dorothy Law Nolte