Practice What You Preach #FridayThoughts

15 Dec 2017 57 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: , , , , ,

I’m a teacher, you all know that.

I have the good of every child in my heart at all time.

Those little souls you entrust me with each year become my own children for that year, and often for the rest of their Primary education, as I am in contact with them throughout their education whilst in our school.

And I only want the best for them.

This is why I advise parents on ways to interact with their children, to develop them as wholly as possible.

You know what I think (don’t make me get back on that soap box!) digital life is fantastic, but don’t let that be the only life your child experiences!

Take them out!

Talk to them!

Play with them!

Create with them!

(then let them play a little on a screen… a little I said! They still need the tech skills too!)

And I know that is the way to give a child a rounded upbringing.

So when I come home and get on with my day to day chores, and look at my own two… one on his phone playing a game, or on the PC, and the other using her phone to sing songs on Smule or to watch YouTubers… I wonder, have I not taken my own advice?

Is this why getting them to bed is a chore as they don’t want to put screens down?

Are the temper tantrums when we ask them to do anything, a result of us letting them get too comfy on technology, so they don’t want to leave their screens to do anything real?

But then they are older.

We have given them a LOT of experiences during their formative years.

And for all the time they are on tablets/phones/PCs or watching TV, they are equally out there playing sport (Lil Man), socialising with friends, mingling with family, being creative (Lil Princess) and doing homework…( perhaps with a slight, gentle nudge in the right direction!).

And I have to admit that I am as bad really… Once I am done with work, and any housework, I tend to either be reading on my Kindle, or on my phone/PC/Surface writing, blogging and keeping up with Social Media!

I guess we lead by example…

Maybe I need to have a think about my New Years Resolutions… but lets get Christmas out of the way first!

Until then, have a festive Friday Peeps!

It’s Christmas Jumper Day here today raising money for Save The Children. I am sat here typing away in my Olaf jumper, ready to have some Christmassy fun with the children!

Enjoy your day!

57 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. swamiyesudas
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 03:28:10

    Hello, Y’All! Nice to meet You, the large number who have commented on our Ritu’s post, which is a Great one.

    I am a Catholic Priest, so no kids of my own, what?! 🙂

    These days my life is spent practically in front of my PC, from morning to night, as far as my energy at 70 years permits. I keep writing, on my Novel, in the blog, on Facebook; Trying to create opinions.

    On an average, I get about 30 phone calls a month(!), is all, and one or two visit me a day.

    But when they come, and they spend around 30 minutes with me at the least, I totally ignore my computer, though it is there right in front of me.

    Hope these thoughts are of some use.

    Love and Regards. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. Evelyn Rogers
    Dec 19, 2017 @ 18:11:19

    Great advice. I recently had to remind my grown son to put the phone down and just sit on the floor with his daughter. She wants to play with her toys, she wants you to read to her, even if she keeps turning the page while your reading. Point is, she wants you. Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. Norah
    Dec 17, 2017 @ 12:34:53

    Hi Ritu, this is great advice, but as you’ve shown, difficult to put into practice. Television used to be the big no-no of a previous generation. No doubt it was books some time before that. Technology is a part of our life, and as long as it is just that – a part – there is no harm in that. It is difficult to not become addicted though. Seasons greetings to you, too. Yes, let’s get Christmas over first. What technology will be under the tree this year? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Sue Dreamwalker
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 17:44:23

    Excellent advice Ritu, we do so need to nurture children to embrace nature and exercise in games outside of the techno boxes..
    And I have to give my self those reminders often, and turn off the modem.
    Wishing you a beautiful Christmas Ritu.. and thank you for the reminders to look in our mirrors lol..
    Love and Blessings.. Enjoy your Holiday time..
    Sue xxx ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. hotmessmemoir
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 16:13:19

    I agree, I try to stay off my laptop with the exception of an hour in the morning and an hour at night when they are awake. They know I’m blogging and they know it’s my passion but still. This is a post that needed to be written for sure!!!

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 11:12:24

    Snap! I think that this will resonate with so many families Ritu – and I guess that those of us who know we might fall into this aren’t necessarily the ones you need to reach with this message. I know that as a governor I recognised that the parents who turned up to training sessions etc were already on side.
    As for my kids – the 21 year old would have to be surgically removed from his phone; the middle one isn’t so bad, but 15 year old daughter is never far from hers. But then hubby is always on the ipad!!

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. Jennie
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 11:08:03

    Reblogged this on A Teacher's Reflections and commented:

    Words of wisdom from Ritu, a teacher and a mother.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. robbiesinspiration
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 04:36:24

    I hear you Ritu. My own children spend a huge amount on their computers, ipads and iphones. When they were younger I also did so much with them but now, they are not keen at all. If I offer to do something with them I have to beg them to do it. It is a bit wearying so I don’t always persist. BTW, I couldn’t comment on your Carrot ranch post, I don’t know why. I thought it was very funny though and it sounds like my family.

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. joey
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 04:16:09

    I appreciate the way you acknowledge that screen time is part of being well-rounded in this day and age. We need a nice balance — all of us. But yes, oh yes, children need to be peopling in person — and often with their parents, because otherwise, how can we all have learning experiences and teachable moments? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. Fourth Generation Farmgirl
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 02:51:47

    Such a thoughtful and timely post, Ritu!
    Have a nice weekend!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. Jennie
    Dec 16, 2017 @ 01:18:16

    Yes, YES! You hit the nail on the head, Ritu. I wanted to reblog this, but that wasn’t an option on your post. This is what parents (desperately) need to hear, through the eyes of a fellow parent, who is also the teacher. Wonderful!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  12. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 20:39:46

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. Trackback: Practice What You Preach – The Militant Negro™

  14. Erika Kind
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 19:19:23

    I hope you had a fun day, sis!! Enjoy the last days before Christmas with all of your kids!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. Judy E Martin
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 18:16:50

    I am guilty of it too, Sis, although my daughter is always out with her friends walking all over the place (Probably whilst Snapchatting though)!!! Happy Festive Friday to you too in your Christmas jumper! 💖

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. syl65
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 14:13:45

    You have a great Christmas jumper day and weekend Sister!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. vanbytheriver
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 13:46:44

    You nailed it, Ritu. I don’t know how I would have handled the online saturation that kids are exposed to today. My own didn’t even have a cell phone until they left for college. Different world…wise to be aware.

    Liked by 3 people

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  18. colinandray
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 12:51:57

    Good messages there Ritu! Sadly so many parents just don’t get it… and blame society, or the school, or the delinquent friends, when their offspring is less than their expectations (and they are probably simply mirroring their parents’ habits)!

    Liked by 2 people

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  19. Michael
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 10:05:33

    Great post indeed.!

    Red to here some of that advice myself i reckon…after getting home the day can be gone before you know it and I’ve often done nothing productive with them.

    Liked by 2 people

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  20. Michael
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 10:04:11

    Great post indeed.!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  21. IreneDesign2011
    Dec 15, 2017 @ 08:47:33

    Sometimes we need to listen to our own advice too, Ritu 🙂
    Even if I don’t have kids at home any longer, I do also give advice to others and sometimes I think deeper and see, that I need to follow my own advice too.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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