The answer is yes! Research finds that parents who feel strongly about their kids having good moral values usually succeed. If you really want to raise a moral child, then make a personal commitment to raise one, and then don’t stop until you succeed. You start off by being a good example. Parents are their children’s first and most powerful moral teachers. So be confident of your own beliefs. And then share them regularly with your child, explain why you believe the way you do.
Effective discipline should ensure that the child recognizes why their behavior was wrong. For instance, ask your child, “Was that the right thing to do? What should you do next time? What will you do?” Kids who act morally have parents who expect them to do so. It sets a standard for your child’s conduct and it also lets him or her know in no uncertain terms what you value. Researchers tell us one of the best moral-building practices is to point out the impact of the child’s behavior on the offended: “See, you made her cry.” Help your child imagine what it would be like to be in the victim’s place.
One of the simplest ways to help kids learn new behaviors is to reinforce them as they happen. So purposely catch your child acting morally and praise them for their good behavior. Teach your child the golden rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated,” - it’s biblical. Most of all, teach them about God and Jesus Christ coming into the world to provide a plan of eternal salvation for all who accept him. Later in life you’ll look back with thankfulness to God for helping you raise not only a moral child, but one who is living for Christ.
This is Carl Ramsey and that’s Another View of the News.
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