Family morals are the beliefs that family members have about right and wrong, and good and bad. Some examples of family morals may include: treating others with kindness and respect, not taking things that don’t belong to you, and cooperating with parents by following family rules.
Family values can be defined as the moral guidelines that family members believe have worth. The purpose of family rules is for parents and children to establish consistent guidelines that will help everyone know what is and what isn’t expected of them. Family rules also encourage family members to take responsibility for their own behavior and to be contributing members of the family.
Does your family have morals, values and rules?
Below are some tips provided to you by St. Tammany Health System’s Parenting Center to help incorporate family morals, values, and rules into your household:
- Morals are often developed through parents, extended family, siblings, school, the child’s peers, the media and church. These outlets will be the models for your child’s morals, values and rules. Make sure that they are great ones. Think about what your morals are and how you would like to implement them within your family.
- Families must practice their morals and values to be a model for their children. Do not develop a family moral, value or rule without asking yourself as the parent if you can follow through on that on a day-to-day basis.
- Make realistic rules. Also, have different rules for the different ages of children you have in your household. It is unfair to hold your 3-year-old to the same standards as your 11-year-old. Make sure the rules make sense to them.
Parenting is one of the toughest jobs and the Parenting Center is here for you. If encouraging your children is something your family is struggling with, please reach out. We are here to help. At $20, we offer Parenting Coaching by appointment, so call the Parenting Center to set up an appointment with one of our educators for guidance and assistance on how to help you create moments of encouragement within your daily lives.
Learn more about the Parenting Center StTammany.health/ParentingCenter, including a listing of upcoming classes, activities and playgroups.
Alexis Dill PLMFT is the education coordinator at The Parenting Center.