Ways to Teach Values

You want your kids to be grateful, but they dont consistently thank others when the kindness is
warranted. Experts name at least five ways to teach kids values.
What You Need To Know
Often, adults think of character building as going through difficult circumstances and coming out
stronger. But teaching kids about developing good character traits can be done in less painful and
more supportive ways, especially during difficult times like the adjustment to middle school. Beyond
lectures, kids learn from witnessing, examining, and problem solving.
How You Can Help
Many experts name five to six methods for teaching kids about values. A couple examples are
below.
1. Role Models. Often parents point to an admirable person in the media or community and
assign character traits that they want their children to emulate. The benefit is that kids realize
that the values are real and not just ideals. The disadvantage is that no one is perfect and
often the hero falls off the pedestal. Be precise about the attribution of qualities and discuss
flaws.
2. Examining Actions. By mapping the steps in a decision process and following up with the
consequences of the action, kids learn to be analytic. They can speculate about alternative
actions and the results of those choices. Kids can analyze characters from stories, media
events, community actions, and most importantly, their own behavior.
3. Moral Reasoning. When kids address no win situations and must make decisions, they learn
to weigh circumstances and effects. This approach offers opportunities for discussion and
collaboration. Many social studies classes use scenarios from history and ask kids to allocate
resources, assign manpower, and choose courses before they discover what the real people
did. You can use incidents from the news, school, or your work.