We heard from Brodie Swanson, Associate Pastor of Children's and Family Ministry at Elmbrook Church, who discussed the whys and hows for instilling values in our children.
Top 3 Values you can Instill in your Preschooler and Why they are Important:
1. Honesty. A child raised with honesty becomes a teenager/adult who never has to cover his tracks, is trusted by kids and their parents, will have better clarity about who they are and what they think, and will teach them to be their own advocate.
2. Respect. (Kids learn this mostly from watching adults. How we talk about people and situations influences how they think and act.) A child raised with respect will learn to value the mutual respect and consideration of others opinions and differences.
3. Forgiveness. A child raised to value forgiveness becomes an adult who can deal with hurts and move forward. Learning to say and accept "I forgive you" is a very powerful tool.
How to do this:
- We want to instill values, not install them. Don't just tell them, but explain why.
- Know your child's development path. Recognize what they can and will grasp and certain ages/stages and adjust accordingly.
- Use the appropriate methods. Use teachable moments, speak their language (role play), discuss things ahead of time rather than reacting in the moment.
- Don't underestimate the value of your example!
For a power point of Brodie's presentation, click here.
After listening to Brodie speak, we decorated vases using simple tools like masking tape, glue and food coloring.
We hope to see you at the next mtg. on Nov. 1st when we will be discussing "Faith: Hope in Marriage."
