Sylvia Rimm Teaching Values Parents teach children values during their entire childhood, but those taught during the preschool years are foundational for the teaching ahead. Parents have the greatest influence during children's early years. Schools, peers, and the media dramatically affect values during the school-age years. If children are given a good foundation early, they are less likely to be mislead later. The roots of your children's conscience are taught in these early years.
Preschoolers learn values best by stories.
They love to listen to stories. Who Cried Wolf has been used millions of times over to teach small children about honesty. Many children's stories are expressly written to convey values. As you read to your children, ask them questions that elicit their thinking about the values they hear. Young children love to hear stories about their parents' childhood.