In a world where so many tragic bullying stories make the headlines, it has never been so important to teach our children about the power of their words and actions.
For US mum Amy Beth Gardner, this was one of the most important lessons she needed to pass onto her daughter, the night before she started school.
In a post which has gone viral online, Amy took to Facebook to share the clever way in which she taught her daughter, Breonna, this important lesson.
Amy asked her daughter to empty an entire tube of toothpaste out onto a plate. Once it was all out of the tube, Amy then asked Breonna to put it all back in.
Naturally, Breonna was confused by what she was being asked to do, and insisted that it was impossible.
As she explains in her post, Amy had actually created the perfect analogy to demonstrate the powerful impact of words and actions.
Recalling her advice to Breonna, Amy wrote: "You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or death. As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry. You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others. You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others.”
After asking her to reflect on the lesson, Amy then urged Breonna to ‘use her words carefully’.
“Be known for your gentleness and compassion. Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it. You will never, ever regret choosing kindness,” she added.
Amy’s clever analogy has gone totally viral since being uploaded online, with parents all over the world borrowing the idea for themselves and their own children.
