Nine Ways To Teach Your Children Values

Author: Mark Brandenburg

Today, more than ever, we need to reach out to our children and teach them values we can all feel good about—values that lift our children up, values that build self-esteem, values that nurture, values we can no longer find in a consumer-driven society. But how can we, as parents teach values when everything in our society seems to teach the opposite?

Here are nine easy ways to teach the values you believe in, to your children:

Teach Through Life Stories
Kids love to hear stories about their parents' childhood. At bedtime, where there are fewer distractions, tell your children stories about your life growing up. Weave in some moral dilemmas, share the life lessons you learned, and they'll fall asleep with the story swirling around inside them.
Walk The Talk
Kids learn by imitating others; especially at a young age. Don't confuse them by giving mixed signals. Follow the very values you want your children to follow, at every moment. They really do match what you say with what you do.
Expose Them To Your Faith
Guiding your children towards your faith, or spiritual beliefs, will strengthen their values, help them realize they are not alone, and provide a framework for life.
Pay Attention To What Others Teach Them
Anyone who spends time with your children can influence the way they think and feel. Get to know your children's teachers, coaches, and friends. Know their values and beliefs—make sure what they "teach" your children are aligned with what your beliefs and values are.
Ask Questions To Stimulate Dialogue
Asking "curious" questions allow your children to think for themselves. Questions allow two-way discussions that lead to your children understanding why values are important. For instance, "What did you think about that fight?" is more effective than stating, "He shouldn't have started that fight!"
Do Not Preach
Talking to your children in a relaxed, calm manner without that annoying "Parental tone" will keep your children from running for the door, and listening to what you have to say. Nothing will turn your kids off more than preaching values to them after they've screwed up!
Limit Exposure To Devaluing Devices
Limiting the amount of time your children spend watching television, getting online, or playing certain types of video games, can help keep your children from being desensitized. Advertisers spend over 3 billion dollars trying to convince your children to think and act a certain way; teach your children to think for themselves by cutting back on how much time you, as a family, spend on these devices.
Reach Out To Others
Children learn values when they experience them. By volunteering, as a family, you teach your children the importance of giving to those less fortunate than themselves. When your children can see first-hand the results of their efforts an important value will be instilled in them—for a lifetime.
Have High Expectations
Children tend to rise to the level of your expectations. Their value system will reflect your value system as long as you expect them to make it an important part of their life. When your children make a decision, whether you agree or disagree, ask them to consider how their decision fits into their own value system—then ask whether the decision they made was the right one.

Nine Ways To Teach Your Children Values

Author: Mark Brandenburg

Teach Through Life Stories

Walk The Talk

Expose Them To Your Faith

Pay Attention To What Others Teach Them

Ask Questions To Stimulate Dialogue

Do Not Preach

Limit Exposure To Devaluing Devices

Reach Out To Others

Have High Expectations