It’s been an awesome ride writing on such an important topic. The best time to shape a leader is not when he/she becomes Martin Luther King Jnr, Hitler, Mother Theresa, Vladimir Putin, but when he/she is still impressionable, “as the twig is bent, so grows the tree” – Elizabeth Campbell. Parenting must begin early, some people say while in the womb, others say in the cradle, but more importantly, we must have a clear goal; we must begin with the end in mind. When a child’s worldview is formed, any other thing we do, for the most part, some say is just an add-on.
Talking about shaping and disciplining your children, there are different tools to use, one of which is stories. How do you swim through the myriads of messages flowing from every angle to transfer strong values to your children? How do you get them grounded on integrity, honest and chastity in a culture where public leaders and models are immersed in an avalanche of scandals?
Using stories has proven to have long lasting effects. What do we mean by the ‘use of stories’ within the context of our discussion? Simply put, it is using an event, a personal story or that of someone else to teach and reinforce a value or a universal principle. For instance, you can share with your child how you found and returned someone’s property and was rewarded for it by your parents or your school. You can also share stories of how your persistence paid off, etc. There are myriads of stories to draw from to reinforce strong family values.
MAKING PROGRESS
You must ensure that your choice story moves you personally, as this is the only way it would move them; it is simple to understand, considering their age; it is consistent and true because you may have to tell it many times before they get and adopt the value; and finally, ensure the point of the story is clear, don’t leave them guessing.
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