Moral values are standards that help children choose between right and wrong or good and bad. This understanding is necessary to make honest, credible, and fair decisions and relations in daily life.
Here are 8 moral values your child must learn:
1. Gratitude
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2. Honesty
Children read in books that “honesty is the best policy.” But to learn its true meaning, they need to practice it continuously. A child can nurture honesty by being truthful toward their parents, teachers, and others around them. Acquaint the child with the fact that it is always best to accept a mistake with honesty instead of lying to cover it up. Show them how they can begin with small steps, such as being honest with their teacher and classmates.
3. Sharing
Sharing is caring. Thus, a child must know the importance of sharing with those in need of them. Sharing is an act that should bud out of selflessness. You can teach your child to share their belongings/resources with others who might need those things desperately. Encourage the child to share their toys with their siblings and cousins or donate some books, food, and clothes to the less privileged children.
4. Empathy
Empathy is considered the capacity to which an individual can understand another person’s problems, issues, and concerns. It is like putting yourself into someone else’s shoes. To raise an empathetic child, you need to be empathetic to them first. Listen to their concerns, issues, and problems, and try to help them. Come up with mutually agreed solutions.
5. Compassion
Compassion is the feeling of love and care that you feel towards others. It is a step ahead of empathy since you not only feel the other person’s feelings, but also strive to help them with their problems. The development of this positive emotion will help your child develop positive relationships with others.
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6. Cooperation
Cooperation is an act of extending help to others to attain a goal that is often mutual. Collaboration at home is the first step towards developing a sense of cooperation. Doing household chores together and listening to each other’s problems are some acts of cooperation that a family should follow. Such actions help a growing child think of “we” rather than “me.”
7. Respect
Young children should learn to respect every individual irrespective of age, caste, creed, religion, ethnicity, beliefs, and difference of perspective. It is a crucial step to develop healthy social and professional relations when a child grows up. Talking politely to the school bus driver or house help is an example that you can set for your child.
8. Equality
Equality is an integral part of several moral values, such as justice. Treating all individuals equally in terms of rights, opportunities, and status is essential for eradicating thoughts of supremacy. You can set the right examples by allowing your child to play with other children, irrespective of their social differences.
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Why Teach Moral Values to Children
Imbibing moral values in a child will have the following positive effects:
- Helps build a positive character with traits such as compassion, respect, kindness, and humility.
- Makes the child distinguish between right and wrong or good and bad. It can eventually promote rational thinking and unbiased judgment.
- Provides a perspective that shapes attitudes and beliefs towards various aspects of life.
- Boosts their self-confidence and helps them stay positive even in difficult situations.
- Allows children to channel their energies in the right direction.
- Works as a moral compass that helps them stay off the negative influence of peers, social media, or society in general, as they grow into teens or adults.
- Aids in setting high standards of social living that help develop society at large.
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