Values are principles in life that guide people in deciding which is right or wrong, and how they are to act in various circumstances.
The importance of values
Values change behaviours and attitudes of oneself, it affects one’s decision and relationship with others.
Why values have to be taught at young age?
Childhood is marked as a critical period with development in physical, neurological and social aspects.
If values are not instilled during the childhood by parents, children may develop negative morals and unethical acts.
Thus, children may act poorly towards others and behave terribly in the future.
Parents are responsible in teaching values to their children for them to develop a brighter future.
Difference between values, ethics, and morals
Values, ethics, and morals are similar but not the same.
Values refer to the principles in life that guide people in deciding which is right or wrong, and how they are to act in various circumstances.
Ethics determines which behaviours are correct or wrong, and what types of behaviours are allowed.
Morals refer to how one feel good or bad, and how it reflects the intention of the person.
How to enforce and continue the values learnt from young age?
Children should act on the values they are taught and display their knowledge through their behaviour.
To only verbally accept the values and think they should follow will not enforce the values from young.
Parents ought to follow the values they teach, as children tend to mimic behaviours from the adults in their life.
Conflicting beliefs of values
Values may cause conflict between the parent and the child.
Parents tend to ensure their children follow and accept their values, act according to the standard they want.
If the child does not acknowledge the values from their parents, the child may rebel and become distant from them.
Values are personal and people tend to have strong belief in it. With such strong conviction in their values, it may cause tension among people.
This commonly occur between the parents and their child, especially in the future, when the values they believe in changes.
Subjectivity of values
Values may be unconsciously chosen by the children, as they may have learnt from their parents or people they are familiar with.
Values learnt unconsciously in the childhood might mostly be non-verbal and from the interactions with their parents.
Children will change their values once they start getting older, and able to think for themselves.
However, values are not factual and objective. It is important for parents and children to understand the difference between facts and opinions.
Changes of children’s value in the future
As children grows, so as their values and perception change.
Parents ought to guide their children to grow independently, willing to communicate with them and be more open towards the changes in their lives.
Children will rebel even more strongly during their adolescent period if they are unable to voice out their differing thoughts in values. This may cause a distant relationship between the parents and the child.
How parents may use values as a guide in their child’s life?
It is essential for parents to understand the concept of values, and how it influences their children.
Teaching children about values provide clarity and guidance.
Parents should be clear about the specific values they want their child to learn and how to effectively add it into their life. This helps the parents to relate easily to their child, determining which values and behaviours to be enforced and repeated.
Values can be a shield from negative influences in the child’s life. However, things does not go according to reality. Parents may have to accept that their child might behave negatively in the future.
Ten types of values to be taught in their childhood
Values help to encourage children to have upright morals, differentiating right and wrong. It develops character and positive behaviour in children, guiding them on the right track. Below are the listed values to be taught:
Respect
Respect is an important value to learn from young, children should learn to respect others regardless of age, religion, nationality, beliefs, and views.
As children tend to mimic behaviours from their parents, parents can demonstrate by speaking respectfully to others. Regardless of age, religion, nationality, beliefs or views, etc.
Despite how competitive society can be, it is critical for children to learn that success in life does not mean putting others down and stepping over them.
Honesty
Honesty has to be practised repeatedly in order for the children to understand its significance.
Teaching children to true to themselves, parents and others help them to practice honesty.
Parents ought to teach their child that mistakes made in life are common, that they should learn to acknowledge the mistakes rather than keeping quiet and hiding about it.
Children should learn about lying and dishonesty, on how it may lead to learning bad habits that may result in consequences down the road.
Compassion
Compassion helps children to understand others, to love and be concern for them.
This value may help children to develop empathy, which is important when they grow up. It allows the child to be more conscious of the impact of their mannerism and behaviours to others.
Resilience and hard work
In life, there are bound to be challenges faced by people.
Learning to be resilient teaches children to not give up when they face challenges in their life. Instead of viewing it as challenges, children may view it as an opportunity.
Hard work is essential in order to make a brighter future. Children should be taught that putting in effort in the things they do help them to achieve what they want, rather than doing it sloppily or cheating.
Kindness
Kindness can be defined differently by people, and can be displayed through gestures or verbals acts. Learning to be kind to others teaches children to be thoughtful and generous towards others.
Gratitude
Gratitude teaches children to appreciate the things they have in life, while not taking things for granted. By appreciating what they have, the child will be happier and grateful.
Sharing
“Sharing is caring” is a sentence well-known to people. It teaches children not to hoard and be selfish, aiding those who are less fortunate with things they have. For example, sharing items with classmate or siblings, donate items, etc.
Cooperation
Cooperation refers to aiding others to pursue a common goal.
To teach children about cooperation, parents must demonstrate it at home. For example, parents may do activities that require everyone to do it together. This teaches children to think as “us”, instead of only “me”.
Responsibility
Responsibility is learning to be dependable, choosing to do good and be accountable for their actions.
Parents ought to demonstrate various examples for children to learn about responsibility. For example, giving them chore duties, and then rewards when they complete it.
Generosity
Generosity is an essential value for children to learn. Children will be more socially responsible and nice towards others, willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it.
I hope the information available helps you to understand more about values, the importance of teaching children about values during their early childhood and how to help them succeed in life.
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You can visit us at the following venues:
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 Singapore 520433
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 Singapore 520433
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Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141