Family Friday! The Family That Plays Together Stays Together

Whoo Hoo, It's Friday!

I thought this was a great article on addressing values with your children. Today it seems more and more that values are falling to the wayside. It is up to us as parents to make sure that our children have a good value base instilled in them. In my opinion with out this they have nothing.

Besides the fact that is good practice for us as adults to keep ourselves in check.

GIVE YOUR CHILDREN THE VALUES THEY DESERVE

Parents can combat societal pressures with the right approach

Peers, TV shows, movies, magazines…With so many external pressures facing kids at younger and younger ages, parents often wonder:

How can I get my children to listen to me…instead of the ‘cool’ kids at school?

How do I teach my child the importance of hard work, honesty, and humility?

How can I reach them when they get so many messages that seem to say, "Who you are is not as important as how good you look, and how many toys you have?"

There is hope. Using the following tips, parents can have a much stronger influence than any friend or TV commercial:

Tip #1: Instead of telling your kids how to live, show them

Wise parents commit lots of honest, respectful, kind, and responsible acts in front of their kids. Simply stated, actions speak louder than words.

The next time another driver cuts you off or someone in your neighborhood needs help, treat the situation as an important opportunity to show your children how responsible, caring adults act.

Tip #2: Talk about your values when they’re eavesdropping

What we say in front of our kids is more important than what we say to them. When you do something great, talk about it within earshot of your kids. For example, when your child is sitting nearby, you might say to your spouse, "Honey, the clerk at the store gave me ten dollars too much in change. I could have kept it, but I gave it back. I always feel better when I do the right thing!"

Tip #3: Teach character and responsibility with empathy and consequences.

The most effective parents allow children to make mistakes in safe situations. Kids develop character and positive values when they learn that poor decisions result in uncomfortable consequences.

Parents who deliver consequences with anger raise kids who spend their lives feeling angry and who reject their parents’ values. If those same parents replace anger with empathy, their children begin to see them as caring and recognize their values are important.

By Dr. Charles Fay