Values are a reflection of who we are, of our culture and of our own unique heritage. Being clear about our values enables and empowers us to establish priorities and make decisions that we can live with and by. What we learn from our families in childhood builds character and serves us throughout our lives. Families guide personal growth and education, while offering love and protection. When families are strong, our neighborhood is strong, our nation is strong and we can be more hopeful about the future.
Values have influence at every stage of making a choice. Values shape what we believe and perceive. They influence our goals, the alternatives we select and the ranking of these alternatives.
What Are Values?
Values are a part of our experience that affects our behavior. They encompass our attitudes, the standards for our actions and our beliefs. Values are often learned from family, culture and people around us. In addition, values tell others what is important to us and guide our decision making. We use our resources - time, money and brain power - on the things we value.
Characteristics of Positive Values Within Families
Many of our family ideals, beliefs, behaviors or "values" are merely habits of thinking or behaving. Sometimes this is because we do not know any other way or because we have not stopped to think about the motives or reasons for the things we think, say or do. Identifying and communicating the values of the family can . . .
* Be helpful in making personal decisions.
* Become a guide for self-empowerment.
* Help manage time, energy and resources to the fullest.
* Help one to know oneself better.
* Help eliminate some of the confusions in life.
* Help formulate a desired system of values.
* Help one to act or behave in accordance with their values.
* Help one to better understand and respect others who have different values.
Values are critical in building character and increasing an overall sense of well-being. Positive values within families...
* Promote honesty, integrity, commitment and loyalty.
* Encourage respect for self and others and tolerance of differences.
* Require being responsible and accountable for your actions, while practicing selfcontrol.
* Teach fairness and treating people equally.
* Require consideration, kindness, compassion and generosity toward others.
* Foster being a good citizen who appreciates doing things which make life better for self and for other people.
Preschool Children
Younger children are concerned with being good people. Being good means seeing the difference between right and wrong - and then doing what's right! Being good is about being brave. It's about doing what's right when it costs more in friends, money, toys or treats than we want to pay. Doing the right thing consistently is hard for anyone - but especially this age group.
Elementary Children
Young children need to know how to act and how not to act. They need to have clear instructions - not conflicting messages from family members and others in their lives. Through the many interactions between school-age children and others around them, the child learns what is acceptable, and what is not. Much of what this age group values will be played out at school, on the playground and through other interactions with their peers.
by Brenda J. Thames, Ed.D., CPCS, Extension Program Development Specialist|Deborah J. Thomason, Ed.D., Extension Family & Youth Development Specialist
Source: Clemson University Public Service Publishing
Topics: Parenting and Families, Parenting
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