Many of these sayings were passed down through generations as pieces of Wisdom and guidance for children. Here’s one explanation for why parents or older generations might use these sayings with their children:

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: This saying implies that children often inherit traits or qualities from their parents, emphasizing the importance of family values and behaviours.

Like two peas in a pod: This saying emphasizes the similarity between two people often used to describe close friendships or siblings.

Children are meant to be seen and not heard: This reflects a more traditional and authoritarian parenting style, where children are expected to be well-behaved and not interrupt adult conversations.

Blood is thicker than water: This saying stresses the importance of family bonds and Relationships, suggesting that family comes before other connections.

You lay with dogs you get fleas: This is a cautionary saying, warning children to be careful about the company they keep to avoid negative consequences.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: This proverb encourages children to pay attention to signs and warning signals, as problems often have underlying causes.

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink: It teaches children that you can provide opportunities, but you can’t force someone to take advantage of them; it’s about personal responsibility.

Patience is a virtue: This encourages children to develop patience and understand that good things often come to those who wait.

A farting horse is a working horse: This might be used humorously to teach children that hard work can sometimes be messy but is essential.

What goes around comes around, chickens come home to roost: This saying teaches the concept of karma, where the consequences of one’s actions eventually catch up with them.

These sayings served as a way to pass down values, life lessons, and cultural wisdom from one generation to the next. They often carry a mix of practical advice, moral teachings, and cultural norms that parents want to impart to their children. I have only selected a few to make a point, but you may want to add your reasons why your parents used the sayings. Please do so in the comments.

Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/

Royce Shook Blogger

I served as a teacher, a teacher on Call, a Department Head, a District Curriculum, Specialist, a Program Coordinator, and a Provincial Curriculum Coordinator over a forty year career. In addition, I was the Department Head for Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a professor both online and in person at the University of Phoenix (Canada) from 2000-2010.

I also worked with Special Needs students. I gave workshops on curriculum development and staff training before I fully retired