Teaching Our Kids Values

Parental example plays an important role in successfully teaching kids values.. When a newspaper columnist was asked to name the biggest obstacle parents face in training children, he answered: “Themselves.”

TEACHING KIDS VALUES REQUIRES A GOOD PARENTAL EXAMPLE

Parents who do not practice what they preach are working against their own interests and those of their children.

Consistency in this regard is essential. Parents need to ask themselves: What do I believe are the most important things in life? What are my personal goals? Do you communicate these to your children? Does your child see by your actions, not just hear by your words?

Not all communication is done by words.

TEACHING KIDS VALUES REQUIRES PARENTAL UNDERSTANDING

A high school boy once reported that twice he tried to talk to his mother about the drug problem he was experiencing at school.
What was mom’s reply: “Stay away from the pushers,” he said.

OK. Not bad advice. But did it help? Evidently not, because the boy still felt trapped by the pressure and did not know how to break away from it. This is where he needed understanding first, and then guidance. Not just platitudes.

When young people face problems they can’t handle, their first recourse should be to turn to their parents for answers. But such trust can easily be destroyed if parents fail to show understanding of their situation.

Even if no immediate solution is available, when understanding is shown the lines of communication are kept open. More about this in a future article.

TEACHING KIDS VALUES REQUIRES CORRECTION

Correction is another essential in training children. Parents need to set boundaries. Youngsters need to learn what is right and wrong – and why.

When parents reason with their children on matters such as these, and set
the example themselves in their daily lives, the lesson is learned far better than if the children were merely given rules.

A Police Department in Texas several years ago distributed a pamphlet entitled “Rules for raising delinquent children.” It was obviously written tongue-in-cheek, but it’s not hard to get the points.

Practically every one of the “rules” has to do with lack of correction. Here’s a few:
• “Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow to believe the world owes him a living.”
• “When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he’s cute. . . . ”
• “Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21 and then let him ‘decide for himself.’”
• “Avoid use of the word ‘wrong.’ It may develop a guilt complex. . . . ”

Parents naturally are concerned about bringing up their children to have a good value system. Yes, this will take a great deal of effort, no investment of time and energy is too great when the result is a happy and meaningful life for your children.

As time passes social customs change. But the responsibility of parents to properly inculcate in their children core values does not. Despite all of the negative influences faced by young people today, many are still raised with a deep sense of right and wrong and and moral values.

You can reap the reward of bringing up your children with such satisfying results if you now take steps to train, teach, and protect them.

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