HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Model good values. One of the most important things you can do is set a good example for your children. Kids are always watching, even when we think they’re not. They learn from seeing how you treat them and other people. Make sure you are always setting a good example for your kids. You can’t expect them to make good decisions if you are not doing so yourself.
- Monitor what your kids are watching on TV and the internet. If your kids are watching a certain type of program, there will be a lot of “unlearning” to do. Consider co-viewing so you can talk to your kids about the program when it’s over. Ask them what they learned from it. Make sure they are balancing content that encourages good behavior and moral ethics.
- Applaud good behavior! When you see your child doing something good, let them know. Praise good behavior. Always thank them for cleaning their room without being asked or doing homework without being reminded. Praise goes a long way in instilling ethics in our children.
- Hold your kids accountable. Sometimes kids will find themselves in trouble. Use those times as a learning opportunity. Talk about the problem and come up with a solution for them to fix it. If they accidentally break something valuable while messing around, make them earn the money to replace it by doing chores. If they get detention for misbehaving in class, enforce consequences and talk about ways they can make the situation better.