What Kids Hear

Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris (Children Learn What They Live)

• The following is not, as one would imagine, principally about raising children. It is about how one lives, and how one speaks to oneself, and what one gets as a result. We all do self-parenting -- we've been doing it since we were kids -- even if we don't have children.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live 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.