How to Teach Morality to Children

One of the most daunting tasks that parents face is teaching morality to their children. Having a child grow up to be a kind, considerate and honest person is the most rewarding experience in all of parenthood. Therefore, it is very important that you start teaching morality to children at a young age. Here you will find ways to teach morality to your own child and you can even make it a fun experience for the two of you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Set a Good Example

1. Lead by example. Your child has had his eyes on you since birth. You are a role model to your child all the time in every little thing that you do. You will notice that your child starts to move his mouth in the way that you move yours, and a sigh will even be repeated. The child is mimicking you. The same goes for the actions that you take that are moral or immoral. A child has observed your behavior. If you are doing good, a child learns to do good.
2. Intervene when you see an injustice. If you find a starving puppy, give it food and take it to a no-kill shelter. What a child learns from the ruthless act of ignoring a suffering creature will be echoed and repeated in his own reactions later on in life. You want to do the right thing for more reasons than ever now that you are a parent.Give to a homeless person. If you are truly uncomfortable with giving money to a homeless person, ask him what he would like to eat. Make it an activity of kindness for you and your child. Get the homeless person's food of choice, and give it to him.
3. Talk to your child about choices. If you do the right thing, explain all the good things that will happen in this world. Explain how eventually doing a kind thing blesses your own life.
4. Ask your child her opinion on situations and follow it up with your own insight. Explain the other side of things when the child doesn't understand what is the right thing to do. By asking him questions, you will find out how much it is that you can still teach him
5. Read fairy tales, and follow them up by a discussion. Children especially like this at bedtime as it prolongs going to sleep. Most fairy tales have a moral. "Beauty and the Beast" speaks of many things, most obviously on how looks ultimately don't matter in love and how looks can be deceiving. You will find the moral in every fairy tale, and talking about it will help your child grasp the meaning.
6. Correct a child firmly when they do something immoral. Make sure you are calm when discussing the mistake with her. Wait until your anger subsides before speaking to your child. Explain why it is wrong to do what she did and tell her the reason she shouldn't ever repeat this action. Explain the consequences of the immoral behavior and give her examples of how the action has hurt others.After disciplining your child, talk to her again. Ask her for her opinion on the situation now that it is over. Hopefully, your child will be able to speak about the moral choice to be made the next time.
7. Use caution in discussing heaven and hell with children. These topics can often scare children considerably and it can cause needless trauma. A child who has lost a parent can be especially sensitive to the thought of a loved one not being there for them in the afterlife because that person has ostensibly gone elsewhere. Instead of focusing on the eternal consequences of morality, teach based upon the great things that can happen by doing the right thing. Being positive is the key to increasing your child's morality and well-being.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a positive emphasis on doing the right thing. Reward ethical behavior in the same way you do academic achievements.
• Reaffirm how proud you are of your child when you discover a kind action. Encourage them to continue to behave this way.
• Don't punish children for asking why. Questions should be encouraged as a child learns morality.