Moral values are a set of principles which guide society in deciding what’s right and what’s wrong.
Helping to shape both the character and personality of our children, moral values are often taught through moral stories.
Modern children’s television uses a lot of moral values in the telling of popular stories and children respond well to them as they’re often set in fictional worlds which they can relate to. Here are 5 core moral values which you might like to discuss with your child:
Loyalty
Integrity
Honesty
Respectfulness
Determination
Children tend to relish the lessons which moral stories offer because they provide clear situations in which characters can make the wrong decision or the right decision. They illustrate what can happen in both instances offering a safe learning experience which children easily embrace.
In talking about any of the 5 moral values above, it’s a good idea to share examples from your own life in which you’ve needed to use them. Perhaps there was a time when you had to be extra determined in order to succeed? Maybe there was a time when you had to show integrity when you didn’t feel like it?
It’s also a good idea to discuss the times when some moral values have no place in our lives. For instance – what if your child knew that his friend had done something bad – should he remain loyal to his friend and not tell? Or should he have integrity and spill the beans? These are interesting debates which most children will enjoy and as they learn, they will develop a deeper understanding of morality, what it means and why it’s important.
This primary school in Bristol offers a broad range of opportunities for children to learn and explore moral values in different ways. Ask your child what each word means to them. Their idea of what loyalty constitutes might surprise you. It’s a good idea to ensure that children always understand that moral values should never be used to protect wrongdoers. This is also a great opportunity to talk to your child about the right time and the wrong time to stay true to moral values.
