The importance of role models for children

Children come into this world knowing nothing of its grandeur and different realities. As they develop, they inevitably look to role models to shape their vision of the world. The first of these are inevitably parents, whose attitudes will show their offspring what behavior to adopt or not, whether or not they can make mistakes, and so on.

To parents seeking perfection, it's best to stop this vain quest. Firstly, because perfect individuals don't exist and, more importantly, it puts undue pressure on the little one, who will feel that he or she can never do more than his or her mother and father.

As children grow up, role models change. Parents may remain role models, but friends and acquaintances become just as important. They bring different points of view and, sometimes, they can help teenagers who didn't have positive parents... Or, in other cases, influence them to adopt bad habits. That's why it's so important to take an interest in teenagers' role models, understand what they're looking for and, if necessary, help them find healthy role models that meet their needs.

Finally, children themselves can be role models. Some get involved in politics or in social movements on both a small and large scale. These initiatives are all the more important for their peers, who can be inspired by their actions.

Running time: 26min38