It is said that the kind of person a kid grows up to be is a true reflection of their parents. Parents are inarguably the major source of influence in shaping a kid’s character. Kids are like sponges – they absorb everything they see and hear. That’s why it is important for us, as adults, to teach them moral values to steer them on the right path.

You would agree that most of the values we have as adults were instilled in us during our childhood years. Whether it is kindness, respect, or honesty – moral values for kids help them build a good character, tell right from wrong, and change the perception of the world. It is also a crucial aspect of personality development for kids as it determines their adult behaviour.

The top 10 moral values for kids that you must focus on are:

• Respect
  Teach your kid to respect others. And that doesn’t mean only elders. Explain to them that everyone deserves respect whether it’s a friend, neighbour, teacher, or sweeper. We should respect everyone’s sentiments, views, and choices.
  
  Cultivating self-respect is as important as respecting others as it boosts your kid’s confidence and pride in their own abilities and worth. 

• Love for Family
  Mother Teresa once said, “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
  
  Help your kid understand why family is important. For instance, other things may change, but you always start and end with family.
  
  Doing household chores together, listening to each other’s problems, and always lending a helping hand to one another are a few ways you can develop a love for family.

• Respect For All Religions
  Moral values for kids must include the general understanding that every person has the right to choose their religion. And we must respect their choice while treating them as equals because all religions preach the goodness of truth, love, forgiveness, and compassion. So, you must teach your kids to not become biased towards certain people following a certain religion or make fun of them.

• Adjusting And Compromising
  While it is important to teach kids that they cannot have everything their way, there is a very thin line between learning to make adjustments and compromising. Explain to your child that they need to adjust but not at the cost of their life. If compromising means ending up on the losing end, then it is not only harmful to your kid but would also limit their identity.

• Generosity
  Generosity is one of the most important of the 10 values that your kid must learn. A good start to being kind and helpful to others is by teaching your kid to express gratitude for the little things. For example, having a home to live in, having a loving family, having access to quality education, etc. Not every person on earth gets these privileges. So, once your child understands how lucky they are, they are more likely to be generous to those in need of help.

• Honesty
  Kids often hear “honesty is the best policy”, but do they know why and how to practice it daily? That’s where a parent’s responsibility comes in.
  
  Encourage your kid to be truthful towards you, their teachers, and others around them by being a role model for them. Show them that it is always better to accept a mistake honestly rather than lying to cover it up because cheating and dishonesty gets us nowhere in the future.

• Equality & Justice
  One of the core values to teach kids is equality and justice. Treating all individuals equivalent in terms of rights, opportunities, and status is essential for preventing your kid to grow into an arrogant person. It will also equip them to stand against unfair and unjust behaviours.
  
  You can encourage this by allowing your kid to have friends irrespective of their social status. To set examples of fair and equal behaviour, keep the same lights out time for all your kids, get the same Christmas presents for them, or give them equal permission to party at night. No exceptions.

• Empathy
  Empathy is the ability to share and understand the feelings of others. Having empathy requires compassion towards others. Teach your kid to put themselves in others’ shoes and strive to help them with their problems.
  
  It is important to be empathetic to your child as they will learn the same from you. If you listen to their concerns, issues, and try to be there for them when they need it, they will do the same for you and others. This will help them build positive relationships with those around them.

• Perseverance
  Hard work and resilience are important to keep going no matter the challenges we face in life.
  
  Kids tend to get disheartened easily when they lose in a game or fail in a competition. Therefore, it is essential to help them understand that doing something persistently despite difficulties is what’s going to help them achieve success. This never-say-die attitude holds good even when they go on to lead a corporate life or start their own enterprise.
  
  Inculcate this in their daily life by motivating them to study harder if they score low grades in exams instead of criticizing them. 

• Importance Of Education
  Education is one thing that has a huge impact on where one can end up in life. If your child is well-educated, it will help them become a well-rounded individual in the future. So, explain to them the importance of education and how it can help them stay ahead in all walks of life.

Although these moral values must be cultivated in children right from the beginning, no age is too early to start. Every kid has a learning curve and may pick up things differently while experiencing life as they grow up. So, know that it is okay to make some mistakes provided they understand the consequences of their actions and learn from them. All your kid needs is a gentle push from you to pick up and learn good values and habits!