Recently, the ELC launched a new parent education campaign simply titled, Everybody's A Teacher. It is about just that... No matter who you are, what job you hold, how old you are, or if you have your own children or not, YOU are a teacher. Young children look to the people around them for clues about the world and themselves. Everyone in the life of a child is a teacher. Are you teaching the children you impact positive things?

You don't have to be standing in front of a blackboard to be considered a teacher. You can have easily have a positive impact on a child's development. Simply listening to their stories, asking them questions, getting down on their level, or sharing a book, says to a child, "You are important, you matter". At the same time, it is easy to have a negative impact. The simple roll of your eyes or negative body language speaks loudly to children.

We as a society used to live by the "it takes a village" concept. It seems that we have gotten away from the community owning the responsibility for the well-being of our children. I am not sure when and why it happened, but it seems like families are left to their own resources. What we are left with is families who are struggling on their own, and consequently, children who fall through the cracks.

Let's go back. Back to a time when we all took the time to engage children in a positive way. Set a positive example. Be aware of the children you are around, and how you are impacting them. Be a teacher.....