--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing parents can do…" description: "\"The most important thing parents can do, although it's not the only thing they should do, is model the behavior they want from their kids.\" — Angela Du..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg" --- # The most important thing parents can do, although it's not… ![“The most important thing parents can do, although it's not the only thing they should do, is model the behavior they want from their kids.” quote by Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg) > “The most important thing parents can do, although it's not the only thing they should do, is model the behavior they want from their kids.” [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents should exemplify the behaviors they wish to see in their children, as modeling is a primary influence on child development. **In simple terms:** Parents model desired behavior for kids. Key Takeaway Model the behavior you want to see. Themes parenting behavior modeling character development Mood encouraging practical Type guidance motivational When to use this quote - family meals - daily routines - community volunteering Key Concepts role modeling habit formation intergenerational influence Questions to Reflect On - What behaviors do you model daily? - How can you ensure modeling aligns with teaching? A Different Perspective Children may resist or misinterpret modeled actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/but-you-can-t-show-some-far-off-idyllic-conception-of-behavior-if-you/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [You must reward the kind of behavior that you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/you-must-reward-the-kind-of-behavior-that-you-want/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I don’t want traffic behavior, I want social behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-monderman/i-don-t-want-traffic-behavior-i-want-social-behavior/) Hans Monderman > [“Parents must model the kind of behavior they want to teach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-l-wyckoff/parents-must-model-the-kind-of-behavior-they-want-to-teach/) [Jerry L. Wyckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-l-wyckoff/) > [Reward the behavior you want repeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/reward-the-behavior-you-want-repeated/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“The more attention you pay to the behavior you want from students, the more it will happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-d-bateman/the-more-attention-you-pay-to-the-behavior-you-want-from-students-the/) Barbara D. Bateman > [“That's the thing about parents, isn't it? They don't really want you to live your own life; they want you to correct their mistakes-Mike”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarwat-chadda/that-s-the-thing-about-parents-isn-t-it-they-don-t-really-want-you-to/) [Sarwat Chadda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarwat-chadda/) > [I guess I want very much to be recognized for my abilities, for the work I put in, and yet it's still always there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-guess-i-want-very-much-to-be-recognized-for-my-abilities-for-the/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [When you're around the kids, you feel like you act the most grown up just because you're supposed to lead. I say things, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/when-you-re-around-the-kids-you-feel-like-you-act-the-most-grown-up/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I think probably everyone can relate to wanting to believe that your parents are one thing, and having to come to the realization that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-plummer/i-think-probably-everyone-can-relate-to-wanting-to-believe-that-your/) [Charlie Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-plummer/) > [“You know, Lockie,’ she said aloud. ‘What?’ ‘The thing about parents is . . . the thing about good parents — and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-trope/you-know-lockie-she-said-aloud-what-the-thing-about-parents-is-the/) [Nicole Trope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-trope/) > [When Sean came to meet my parents, the first thing my dad did when he picked him up at the airport was to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemp-muhl/when-sean-came-to-meet-my-parents-the-first-thing-my-dad-did-when-he/) [Kemp Muhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemp-muhl/) > [“I get the whole lost-your-parents thing. Been there. But that don’t have to turn you stupid. That’s a choice, like wearing green stretch pants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/i-get-the-whole-lost-your-parents-thing-been-there-but-that-don-t/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [I got a lot of support from my parents. That's the one thing I always appreciated. They didn't tell me I was being stupid;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-got-a-lot-of-support-from-my-parents-that-s-the-one-thing-i-always/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [I could never be dirty in front of my parents. Not that that's the only thing stopping me. It just was never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-could-never-be-dirty-in-front-of-my-parents-not-that-that-s-the/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) ## More by Angela Duckworth > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“you can, in fact, modify your self-talk, and you can learn to not let it interfere with you moving toward your goals. With practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/you-can-in-fact-modify-your-self-talk-and-you-can-learn-to-not-let-it/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [One thing that's true of gritty people is they love what they do, and they keep loving what they do. So they're not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/one-thing-that-s-true-of-gritty-people-is-they-love-what-they-do-and/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [The focus on just thinking about standardized test scores as being synonymous with achievement for teenagers is ridiculous, right? There are so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-focus-on-just-thinking-about-standardized-test-scores-as-being/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Nobody wants to show you the hours and hours of becoming. They’d rather show the highlight of what they’ve become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/nobody-wants-to-show-you-the-hours-and-hours-of-becoming-they-d/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [I don't spend a lot of time thinking about my genes because I can't do anything about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-thinking-about-my-genes-because-i-can-t/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“My longitudinal studies show these three virtue clusters predict different outcomes. For academic achievement, including stellar report card grades, the cluster containing grit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/my-longitudinal-studies-show-these-three-virtue-clusters-predict/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“For many of us, the companies we work for are an important cultural force in our lives. For instance, growing up, my dad liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/for-many-of-us-the-companies-we-work-for-are-an-important-cultural/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“trying to do things they can't yet do, failing, and learning what they need to do differently is exactly the way that experts practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/trying-to-do-things-they-can-t-yet-do-failing-and-learning-what-they/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Negative feelings are typical of learning, and you shouldn't feel like you're stupid when you're frustrated doing something. You might say to yourself, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/negative-feelings-are-typical-of-learning-and-you-shouldn-t-feel-like/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [I was a good novice teacher, but I did the things that were obvious. I stayed for lunch for extra tutoring, gave kids my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/i-was-a-good-novice-teacher-but-i-did-the-things-that-were-obvious-i/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“The separation of talent and skill,” Will Smith points out, “is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-separation-of-talent-and-skill-will-smith-points-out-is-one-of/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [What we reliably find is that people's perseverance scores are actually higher than their passion scores, and I think it really does get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/what-we-reliably-find-is-that-people-s-perseverance-scores-are/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Many things matter other than our measured intelligence, so let's get to work on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/many-things-matter-other-than-our-measured-intelligence-so-let-s-get/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“With everything perfect,” Nietzsche wrote, “we do not ask how it came to be.” Instead, “we rejoice in the present fact as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/with-everything-perfect-nietzsche-wrote-we-do-not-ask-how-it-came-to/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) [Explore all 161 Angela Duckworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing parents can do, although it's not the only thing they should do, is model the behavior they want from their kids.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Angela Duckworth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do-although-it-s-not-the-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behavior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do-although-it-s-not-the-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/angela-duckworth-2560_behavior_the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do_2967701.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing parents can do, although it's not the only thing they should do, is model the…” — Angela Duckworth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Angela Duckworth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing parents can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do-although-it-s-not-the-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/the-most-important-thing-parents-can-do-although-it-s-not-the-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```