Teaching your children values will help them make good choices in their lives. Today's world is ever changing and very fast paced. In years past children grew up in a small community or with just their families and their challenges were much different. As a parent your influence over your children has been diminished and so you need to try extra hard to instill good values in them.
1. What are your values? Teaching values to our children must start with our selves. This is a very critical step and only you can determine what your values are. You naturally want your children to have integrity and a good character. Your values determine what kind of car your drive, how you spend your time and how you spend your money.
2. Your children will follow your example. Your values will be adopted by your children. This can be good and bad depending on the value. A saying I once heard is, "If you do not like your child doing something then make sure you do not do it yourself." We all must look inward to determine our value system.
3. Ask yourself questions. If you found $1,000 what would you do with it? If you had a day where you could do anything you felt like what would it be? If you could choose to spend your weekend shopping or donating your time to a hotline what would you choose? The way you answer these question reveals some of your values. Are you happy with your answers?
4. A monthly family meeting is very helpful. Set some time a side each month where you can meet with your children without any distractions. Discuss your values and the events in your life that helped you frame them. Ask your children about their values and the reasons behind them.
5. One value each month. Each month focus on a single value. It can be anything from character building to goal setting. The important thing is that your children have the opportunity to tell you what they think of it. By doing this your children will feel like they are part of the process and will appreciate your willingness to hear different perspectives.
Teaching values to our children starts with our own values. First we need to understand what our values are. If we lack certain values or are unhappy with a current value then now is the time to change. Then set some time aside each month where you can meet with your children and discuss a different value each month with them.
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