My grandmother's house had been paid off for many years. My own adult fiscal behavior has been strongly influenced by both my grandmother's frugal behavior and my parents' debt-based life. My own behavior towards money was influenced by modeling. Observing behavior is a powerful teaching device. With children and adolescents, we need to become more aware of our own behavior and how observations of our behavior impact children.
Children have an innate desire to grow up and become adults.
They will do whatever they see us doing. Kids copy bad behavior as well as good behavior Children model all our behaviors, not just our good traits. We cannot pick and choose which behavior our children or any child will choose to imitate. They are always watching us and learning how to behave. Many years ago when I worked with convicted felons in a correctional facility, I learned the lesson of modeling behavior.