Raising children to have a strong sense of personal values is one of the most important roles we play as parents. Helping children learn values such as honesty, respect for others and self-reliance is as important as helping them learn how to talk, write their names, zip up their jackets and look both ways before crossing the street. A child with a strong sense of who he is and what he believes is much less likely to fall prey to negative peer pressure or the temptations of the marketplace. He will be able to make his own decisions, based on his values. Values are the rules that we live by.
Children are extremely observant and watch their parents carefully.
They pick up our values without being aware of it. However, it is vital that you be aware of what messages your words and actions are sending to your children. Talking to them about what you value is important. But it is equally important to actually live those values so your children can see how it's done. There are many competing influences on children these days, some good and some not so good.