Children learn the difference between right and wrong over time as they interact with the world, and they develop their own set of moral values through the process of growing and maturing. As parents it’s our job to help our children understand what’s important to them and what others expect from them so they can interact with people and situations in a positive way. Here’s some advice on some important moral values to explore with your child from an independent school in Edgbaston.

Kindness

Teaching children to be kind is one of the most important lessons we can impart. Encourage your child to complete acts of kindness for others whenever possible so they learn how good it feels to help someone in need or do something nice for them. This will boost your child’s self-esteem knowing others are grateful for something they’ve done, and they’ll come to expect kindness as a basic human right. This makes it easier for them to spot when people aren’t being kind.

Good manners

You can instil good manners in your child by modelling politeness yourself and encouraging them to copy you. When you’re at the supermarket, for example, prompt them to say thank you to the checkout operator and make sure they say please when asking for something. Having respect for others is part of good manners, so teach your child to listen carefully to others and wait their turn before speaking, as well as compromise when needed.

Gratitude

Gratitude is another important value for children to learn, so encourage them to appreciate the things they have in life and people who do something nice for them. You could prompt them to write a thank you card to their teachers at the end of term or write in a journal to express gratitude for good things that have happened during the day.

Accountability

It’s important for children to learn to accept responsibility for things they’ve done wrong to avoid them feeling entitled. Teach your child to own up to mistakes, apologize and attempt to fix them, rather than trying to hide them or shifting blame. They’ll learn to accept responsibility for their actions and expect the same level of accountability from others, rather than lying or running away from things. This will stand them in good stead throughout life as they encounter difficult and sometimes uncomfortable situations.

Developing their own sense of morality will give your child an internal compass to help them navigate the world and make independent decisions based on what’s important to them and how they’ve been taught to interact with others.