Teaching Your Child Values

The other day I found a wonderful book entitled 40 Ways to Teach Your Child Values by Paul Lewis. It is a treasure chest of potent and practical information for raising your child whether he or she is a toddler or a teen. Quoting extensively from his book, I wish to share his thoughts with you concerning six truths effective parents must regularly review and strive to understand.

Realization One: Ultimately. children make their own choices. As the Book of Proverbs states: ” Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The best we can do is expose them to correct values, teach feelings of compassion, and give them a good education, then hope they will make correct choices. Don’t try to impose your failed dreams on them. But be there when they need you. Help them through their mistakes and praise them for their good choices.

Realization Two: If you think you’ve largely failed so far, it is never too late to start doing what’s right. Even the worst of us can gain a fresh stan. It’s never too late unless you say so. Try again to become a loving parent. No child is ever too old to need his parents. There are few problems that a parent and child cannot reconcile especially when wrapped in love.

Realization Three: Modeling is the bottom line. Wipe out the thought: “Do what I say, not what I do.” Example is a difficult taskmaster, but no teacher is more effective. If the values you cherish are to be etched deeply on your child, you must model what you preach. Children are all ears and eyes as they view the world. What they see and hear is what they become. We cannot say one thing and live another. Be a strong positive role model.

Realization Four: No parent is an island. To reinforce the values you desire your child to learn, take the initiative to introduce him to adults whom you respect and ask them to present truths to the child. These adults may be able to reach your child to present truths in ways you cannot. Suggest to these adults what you would like them to teach your child than create opportunities to meet one another.

Realization Five: Realization Five: A good marriage is more important in raising your child than excellent parenting skills. Your child’s sense of security is rooted deeper in how much love he or she feels you and your spouse share than in your love for the child. A child must feel in his heart the words “family” and “togetherness.” Besides, what could be more important to a child who will one day establish his or her own marriage than to live the perfect model in his own home? The scar tissue left from a divorce heals very slowly.

Realization Six: Kids forgive and forget much easier and longer than parents do. Despite repeated offenses, your child will forgive and forget if he or she knows it is your deepest desire to be fair and an effective parent. When you’re blown it as a parent, say: “I’m sorry as sincerely and as quickly as you can.

One of the wonderful ironies of parenting is that we can’t know how well we’ve succeeded in our assignment until it’s too late. However if the parent will heed the advice from the Book of Proverbs: “Determination to be wise is the first step towards becoming wise! And with wisdom develop common sense and good judgment,” he will have fulfilled his assignment successfully and proudly.