As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined

Meaning:

• This proverb means that a grown person will act the way he or she was taught to act as a child.

Example sentence:

Don't let your little daughter make faces at people. Don't think she'll grow out of it. As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you believe that parents need to encourage their children to behave well or do children just observe what adults do and then do the same?
2. Did your parents have to 'bend the twig' when you were a little child or were they too liberal?
3. Do you think that strict upbringing can influence a child in a negative way?