Teach Your Children Well

Raising good citizens is one of the most important contributions we can make to the world. If children are raised to be empathetic, responsible, aware of their impact on the planet and open to new ideas, then we create a stronger, more cohesive society.

It’s an easy goal to have, but not always so easy to put into practice. “Life’ seems to be changing at a frenetic pace, and some traditions and manners are being left by the wayside, which is a shame.

Empathy

The ability to read other people’s feelings and reactions is a complex skill, but one which will see children go far in life. Empathetic people can tell when someone is happy, sad, angry, fearful and loving: as a consequence, they are often able to negotiate complex situations more easily, than those who are solely focused on their own personal goals.

This does not mean ignoring one’s own needs and feelings. It is an ability to choose the best course of action to ensure all parties feel respected and heard.

Encourage your children to look further than only their own immediate personal needs. Ask them questions to get them thinking. See if they can describe how other people in various situations may be feeling.

Responsibility

Responsibility for one’s feelings, belongings and impact on the wider community is equally important. If your child is feeling unhappy or angry, teach them the importance of ‘owning’ their part in it, rather than blaming others.

Teach them to gather and look after their own belongings, and to tidy up after themselves. It is counter-productive to do everything for your children; if they learn to be responsible early on (from packing their own school bags to cleaning their own soccer boots, they can grow and transition into booking their own dental appointments and maintaining their bikes or cars), it will serve them well later on.

Remind them of the value of owning up to their mistakes (that we all make) swiftly and comprehensively. A problem which is identified quickly can often be rectified far more easily than one which is covered up. This goes for things and people!

Awareness of their surroundings

Children, in their natural habitat, can be the human equivalent of a tornado – carving through spaces, leaving carnage in their wake. Gently point out that they need to leave things and spaces in the same (or preferably better) condition than they found them in. By all means play, have fun and make a mess – just be as committed to cleaning up afterwards.

Remind them about consumption. We are fortunate to live in a country rich with resources. This doesn’t mean we should waste them. Turn off taps and power-draining devices when they aren’t in use. While children shouldn’t be burdened with worry over how much things cost, it is useful for them to learn to reduce waste – be it with food, energy or other resources.

Keep an open mind

There are as many points of view as there are people on the planet. Keep your children open to new people, new ideas, new experiences and new opportunities. There is more than one way to skin the proverbial cat, so nurture their ability to learn from others. Nobody is ever 100% correct or 100% incorrect!

What other values are important to you? Please comment below!