Sadhguru Parenting Advice: Quote of the day for parents by Sadhguru: “Children don’t listen to you. They observe you.” |

Parenting tips and tricks usually include communication, discipline, and guidance, but spiritual guru Sadhguru reduces the art of influence to a single, potent reminder: “Children don’t listen to you. They observe you.” This quote has tremendous relevance in today’s world of parenting, where parents are struggling to deal with their children’s behavior, screen time, and emotional intelligence. Developmental psychologists also agree that children pick up attitudes, responses, and values by observing, not by listening. How parents deal with stress and how they treat other people becomes a silent teacher. Here’s what Sadhguru’s quote has to say about the reality of parenting influence.“Children don’t listen to you. They observe you.”Sadhguru’s quote goes against the most common parenting belief: that children will behave if parents keep telling them what to do. The truth is that children’s minds are hardwired to imitate. Children learn by observing long before they learn to listen to reason. Children pick up the tone, the action, and the emotional response long before they can grasp the words. When parents teach children to be patient but behave in an angry manner, children learn to be angry, not patient. The quote emphasizes that children learn most by observing their parents’ behavior. It also urges parents to realize that they are the best examples of everything they want their children to learn.Why children mirror behaviorNeuroscience answers why observation is the preponderant factor in learning during the early years. The presence of mirror neurons in children’s brains triggers when they observe others performing actions or experiencing emotions, allowing them to imitate the actions. This means that children learn kindness, respect, and calmness by observing. If parents use respectful language, children learn to speak in the same manner; if parents handle conflicts in an aggressive manner, children learn to be aggressive as well. Sadhguru’s wisdom is based on this fact, children pick up the emotional atmosphere that surrounds them. Thus, parenting becomes more about modeling the behavior that parents want to see in their children.Daily habits are silent lessonsFrom phone use during meals to responses in traffic, daily habits teach children valuable lessons. If parents give importance to phones, children learn distraction; if they practice being present, children learn to be present as well. The Sadhguru quote brings to light the silent lessons that children learn from their parents. When parents demonstrate consistency between words and actions, they gain credibility in the child’s eyes. If parents ask children to be honest but lie and break promises, children learn the same. By demonstrating behavior that is consistent with values such as politeness, responsibility, and empathy, parents create a space where children learn by observing without forcing or lecturing them.Emotional regulation is learned by observing, not teachingChildren learn to regulate their emotions by observing how their parents deal with their emotions. The parent who can take time to react teaches children self-control, while a parent who shouts teaches children impulsiveness. The Sadhguru quote highlights the importance of learning emotional intelligence by observing. The parents who know how to handle conflicts in a calm way, who disagree with each other in a respectful manner, and who apologize for mistakes when they happen teach children how to manage their emotions in a healthy way. This is what helps create a sense of security and trust in the minds of children, enabling them to learn by imitating in a balanced way. Therefore, parenting becomes a job of emotional development through example, not instruction.Be the behaviour you want to seeFinally, the Sadhguru quote above encourages parents to look within. Instead of trying to manage the behavior of children, it encourages parents to develop an awareness of themselves, the way they talk, react, prioritize, and treat others. Children are always watching and learning from these behaviors. And when parents demonstrate patience, curiosity, and kindness, children pick them up naturally. The Sadhguru quote urges parents to change their perspective on parenting. And raising conscious children starts with conscious parents.