Good Values Can be taught through Everyday Activities

by Samiksha S. Author

As parents of young children, you must have envisioned a future full of possibilities and accomplishments for the apple of your eyes. And, in addition to wishing a happy and successful life for them, you also expect your little geniuses to grow up to be positive and upright individuals with a strong value system. We know that none of the parents leave any stones unturned in ensuring that. But do you know that just like all other life lessons taught to them, the attempts to instill good values in children’s minds should also start from a young age, as well? So how exactly do you teach things like empathy, kindness, or gratitude to kids? After all, it doesn’t have any formulas like math or rules like grammar. Isn’t it!

At Sapphire International School, the leading play school in Noida Extension, we believe that the answer to that question is rather simple: the fundamental values of life have to be taught to our children through their everyday activities.

You must be wondering how that can be effective and how to put that idea into action. So, without further ado, let’s shed some light on that matter in this article today.

The importance of teaching good values through everyday activities

There is a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin – “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn,” and the quote describes the learning pattern of children perfectly. Be it the lessons of science or the good values, children learn the best through real-life experiences where they are actually made a part of the learning process.

So, you can sit with them and tell them all about how kindness is one of the most beautiful virtues to have. Sure enough, they will remember it, and perhaps, also act upon it. But, when you show them the effect of their kindness on another soul and how the happiness touches their heart in the process, it will be a lesson in kindness that’ll remain in their minds forever.

Ways to teach good values through everyday activities

As we have outlined the reason to teach good values through everyday activities, let us give you some ideas on what those activities can be.

Kindness: You can teach kindness to your children by visiting local charities or shelters with them. You can also encourage them to donate new toys and clothes to orphanages. In fact, even taking their help in cooking something special for the house-help teaches kindness.

Responsibility: Children love mimicking the adults in the house. So, give them the responsibility of simple household chores, such as folding towels, putting away the books, and watering the plants. Make sure to praise them for how dutifully they have completed their chores.

Patience: Teaching patience to children is not as hard as it’s made out to be. You can start by acts of delayed gratification and setting a timeframe for them to receive something. Let the children experience the wait, but don’t forget to keep your promise.

Politeness: Politeness is also something children learn from watching adults. So, involve ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ even in your conversations with your child. For instance, at the dinner table, when you ask your child to pass you something, do not forget to thank the little one for the act.

Empathy: Talk to children about how their actions have an impact on others, and how they would feel when put in others’ shoes. At the same time, you should also take the time to listen to the way your kids are feeling.

Good values are the foundational beliefs that help children know right from wrong. At Sapphire International School, we have seen that when we utilize everyday activities to teach kids such life lessons, children generally imbibe the ideas faster. And, once these crucial values are absorbed in the young minds at an early age, it continues guiding them for a lifetime.