Child rearing Quote by Barbara Coloroso
““From the time he was young, he dressed the way you told him to dress; he acted the way you told him to act; he said the things you told him to say. He's been listening to somebody else tell him what to do... He hasn't changed. He is still listening to somebody else tell him what to do. The problem is, it isn't you any,ore; it's his peers.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “Kids Are Not Dumb” by Barbara Coloroso, 2005
A person who follows others’ instructions from childhood continues to be guided by peers, not personal agency.
In simple terms: Following others’ directions leads to dependence on peers.
Key Takeaway
Encourage independent thinking and self‑direction.
Themes
education
autonomy
peer influence
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
advisory
reflective
When to use this quote
- parenting
- school settings
- team projects
- leadership training
Key Concepts
psychology
social learning
Questions to Reflect On
- When is following guidance beneficial?
- How can one balance influence and independence?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all conformity is negative and ignores positive mentorship.
![“Fashions change, and with the new psychoanalytical perspective of the postwar period [WWII], child rearing became enshrined as thespecial responsibility of mothersany shortcoming in adult life was now seen as rooted in the failure of mothering during childhood.” quote by Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bc7/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_adult-life_fashions-change-and-with-the-new-psychoa_393158.jpg)
![“The most effective alternative process [to punishment] is probably extinction. This takes time but is much more rapid than allowing the response to be forgotten. The technique seems to be relatively free of objectionable by-products. We recommend it, for example when we suggest that a parent 'pay…” quote by B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe3/b-f-skinner-2-27274_behavior_the-most-effective-alternative-process-t_416842.jpg)
