Can Children Change
Their Behavior??

In the news some years ago, it was reported that Jocelyn Elders (who was the Surgeon General under Bill Clinton) said, "children can't change their behavior." While Jocelyn's blithering idiocy was no secret, when this was reported, it was surprising how much discussion went on dealing with this subject.

In my 35+ year "case study" of children, I know this to be complete "BUNK." Everyone, even children, have the ability to change their behavior. We are not born with all of our traits, talents, likes, dislikes, and so on, defined exactly. Every child is born as an individual. Each with their own personality. Each child needs to be taught, consistently, right from wrong, to learn to make right choices. If this were not so there would be no need for parents or a family. But these things are true and that's why the Lord intended for a child to be born into a family, perferrably with both a mother and a father.

One example of this idea took place with our oldest child. We have always attended church weekly and when Dirk was born, we continued this practice. We watched some of the other parents and their children. Some brought small toys to entertain their child, others brought things to eat, such as Cherrio's, to keep their child occupied. We decided against the food idea but started to buy into the idea of bringing some toys to keep him quiet. The problem that we found was that he was beginning to act up while sitting in church so that he could get the toys. We would then take him out of the Chapel into the foyer, where other parents had also taken their noisy babies. It began to look like a playroom. As we noticed this trend with him, of acting up to go into the foyer, we decided to "cause" a change of behavior. We decided that the toys were only becoming a vehicle to get what he wanted, so we stopped bringing toys. I spent more time at home reading to him and having him sit "still" on my lap. When Sunday rolled around and he wanted to go out and play, we sat him down on our laps and told him that it was time to sit still. It was difficult at first but within a months' time, he was sitting through the meeting with no problems. His behavior had changed because of the things around him but mostly because we took the time to teach him. There have been many more examples through the years also. Maybe we'll discuss some more later.

So.....when an "expert" tells you a child can't change their behavior , don't believe them, They are only looking for an excuse (for themselves, usually) or are ready to give an excuse for the child's misbehavior. Excuses won't carry your child (or you, or anyone) through life; just taking on responsibility and doing the right things. There is great power in knowing that we can control our own behavior.

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