They need help in learning what matters to us. We want our children to grow up to be responsible adults. We want them to learn to feel, think, and act with respect for themselves and for other people. We want them to pursue their own well-being, while also being considerate of the needs and feelings of others. Today, there is wide recognition that many of our children are not learning to act responsibly while they are young.
Studies show that many children see nothing wrong with cheating on tests.
Some see nothing wrong with taking things that don't belong to them. If proper attitudes and behavior are not learned early, problems can mushroom with even worse consequences when children are older. As crime has increased, teen-age offenders have shown less and less feeling for their victims. But even for the youngsters who will never commit a crime, it is better to learn responsibility when they are young, rather than when they are older and they have to change bad habits. This booklet focuses on practical suggestions for helping young children appreciate the importance of acting responsibly in their everyday lives.