In this video, Norm expands on the previous video about how children absorb the atmosphere around them and he goes into more detail about the concept of powerful influences.

Children mimic the things that most powerfully influence them so there is a tendency with children to try to get close to and replicate the person or people in their lives who have the most power. Think about how children imitate other children or their favourite TV hero and you will notice how kids tend to imitate the ones they feel hold the power.

In the case of the child’s parents and their influence, Norm gives an example of a mother who is snappy with the father, verses the father who brushes off his wife and ignores her wishes and he explains why the action of the father has more impact on the child then the actions of the mother.

He goes on to explain the effects and influence of the people who care for the child the most which also holds a lot of power and helps a child to define their value. Sometimes the person who holds the most power in this area is not a parent but a grandparent or other significant elder.

These are two very different examples of how people exert power in a child’s life and how the child absorbs this influence. Take a look at the video as Norm relates some of his discoveries through his years of counseling with children and parents and please feel free to add your comments or questions.

With You in Mind

Children are like sponges soaking up the atmosphere around them and they especially soak it up from the most powerful influence in their lives.

Drawing from his experiences working within the school system where he spent several years developing counseling programs and working with some of the most difficult children within that system, Norm talks about children and some of these influences.

Norm gives an example of how children carry this atmosphere and how we actually recognize this atmosphere in them without realizing it. He talks about some of the ways that children respond to their environment and why.

Parents and parenting styles have the biggest influence on a child’s atmosphere and how parents relate to each other will have a big effect on the way the child absorbs his or her atmosphere.

Here are a few things to consider as you listen to the video; in your family, which parent has the most power to define that atmosphere? What is the atmosphere you are creating that your children are soaking up as you raise them and try to influence their healthy character development?

In the next video we continue with the focus on children and parenting. Norm will expand on the concept of powerful influences in the lives of children.

With You in Mind..