With the start of school this past week, many parents are eager to see their children grow as they venture out to school for the first time or return for another year.

While children will learn more about subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic in school, it’s also important to help your child continue to learn life skills at home that they will take with them when they go out into the world on their own. After all, parents are a child’s first teachers.

How do parents do this? The best way is simply by being a positive role model to your children — whether it’s in fulfilling regular household tasks or dealing with relationship challenges. Children watch and learn from what they see every day.

According to the Center for Parenting Education, what you do and how you behave as an adult tends to be the biggest influence on how your children act. Children learn best how to do things by watching their parents.

The center said it is important for parents to teach children what they should do and why they should do it.

Spend time with your children, talk to them and encourage them to always share their thoughts and ask questions.

Let your children learn from their own decisions, and above all practice patience.