We all want our children to grow up to be kind, considerate and responsible adults, but as they grow and mature they have to learn to balance their own needs and desires with those of others.
This can be difficult – even adults sometimes have trouble with this! Children develop empathy from an early age though, and they learn a lot about how to behave in the world by watching their parents, so there is a lot we can do to encourage their sense of morality.
Read on to learn more about this from a private nursery in Halstead.
Model good moral behaviour
The most important thing we can do as parents to teach morality is to demonstrate it ourselves. Ensure your child sees you acting in a helpful and kind way toward others, while also standing up for your own principles.
If you want them to grow up to be compassionate and accommodating, make sure you model this yourself in your everyday life. We also need to teach our children to assert their own needs when appropriate.
So next time someone challenges your sense of morality, discuss this with your child and how it’s important to live by our own set of morals regardless of anyone else’s actions or behaviour.
Explore morals in various ways
There are many different ways you can explore moral values with your child. Reading widely is a great way for them to learn about human behaviour and start to develop their own sense of morality, and the TV programmes and films they watch also contribute to this.
Next time you watch a movie together, discuss it afterwards and ask your child what their views on it are, for example, ask if they think a certain character acted in a moral way and, if so, which morals did they display?
Talking about different morals will help them form their own views and opinions.
Give them responsibility
Try to give your child some responsibilities from as early an age as possible so they develop a sense of purpose.
Taking on chores or tasks around the home teaches children that it’s up to the whole family to keep a clean and tidy home, and that everyone plays a part.
Through this your child should develop a good work ethic and become more independent, which will set them up for success in the future.
Your child will develop their own set of values to live by as they mature, but laying the right foundations is our job as parents.