Values
One of our callings as a dad is to teach. We are teachers. We teach our children. Most of what we teach our children fall into one of three categories:
- Life skills
- Values
- The behavior I want to see
This post focuses on teaching values. On the home page, I suggest 4 objectives worth achieving. The fourth objective states:
Build a strong family where your children will learn and practice good values.
Values are the guiding principles or personal rules we choose to live by.
We all live by our values whether we know it or not. They influence our choices and behavior. In fact, they DRIVE our choices and behavior – as illustrated in the picture of the iceberg above.
Values become a part of who we are and who we strive to be each day.
We can identify our values by filling in the blank:
It’s important to ______.
For example, it’s important to be honest. It’s important to help each other. It’s important to be kind.
One more important thing to be aware of:
If our children don’t learn values from us, they will learn them from somewhere else. Instead of learning, it’s important to be honest, they might learn, it’s ok to be dishonest if it gets me what I want.
Teaching values is one of the most important things you can do. The values you teach your children when they are young will guide them for the rest of their lives. It’s what they will teach THEIR children.
Values drive behavior
Behavior is driven by values. It’s what other people see when they watch us. The actions we take are based on our values. If we value honesty, then our behavior is to always tell the truth. Our behavior is driven by the values we think are important.
As our children grow up, they start to learn and practice values. If we teach our children good values while they are young, the odds are greater they will continue to live by those values the rest of their lives.
