As a parent, one of your main responsibilities is to teach your child to be a good person, one who understands the difference between right and wrong. You can achieve this by exploring various moral values. There are, of course, hundreds of different morals but here are five suggestions from an independent school in Surrey to get you started.
- Honesty
By teaching your child that “honesty is the best policy” you will not only encourage them to build relationships based on trust, but also to take accountability for their actions. If they spill a drink, for example, it is better that they are honest, own up to it and help clear it up, rather than lie and blame someone else. Lying won’t help them create and maintain friendships and may even get them into trouble later down the line.
- Determination
Try and help your child understand that determination is important if they want to succeed. If they give up at the first sign of a challenge, they will never be able to accomplish anything. For instance, if they have piano lessons and struggle to master a piece of music, they will never get there if they give up. Practise makes perfect.
- Empathy
It’s important for children to think about how other people might be feeling in any given situation. When we empathise someone, we are more respectful of their thoughts and opinions, even if they are different from our own. As a result, we are more likely to create strong friendships. So, try and encourage your child to put themselves in other people’s shoes and consider ways they can help someone in need.
- Gratitude
If your child is able to look for the good in life and appreciate what they have, they will be happier and more optimistic. With that said, ask your child to share some of the things they are grateful for each and every day, even if its something that seems normal like someone cooking their dinner or driving them to their friend’s house. This should help them to realise how fortunate they are and be more respectful of what other people are doing for them each and every day.
- Hard Work
Much like determination, hard work is the key to success. Make sure your child prioritises their schoolwork and praise them when you notice that they are putting in the effort. If they are not willing to work hard, they will find it harder to go far in life.
