Being a good parent means teaching your kids to be good people, and the best way to do that is by setting an example. When your kids see you doing things that “good people” do, they’ll catch on.
You don’t have to be Super Woman or Mother Teresa. You just have to practice responsibility, kindness, compassion and caring. Depending on your faith and your beliefs about what it means to be good, being a good person might not be exactly the same for you as it is for someone else.
You are the most important teacher your children will have. Here are some ways you can set a good example for them:
• Gratefulness is something that families should instill in their children. Just because your family may not have everything in terms of material possessions, there are still plenty of things to be grateful for. Showing kids that life can have its downfalls, but there are still many good things to be happy about is crucial. As a parent, you can do this by expressing happiness about the good things you have and avoiding too much complaining about what you don’t have.
• It’s important to teach your kids about responsibility. As adults, we have to be responsible for a number of things. If we don’t take responsibility, we can suffer some fairly uncomfortable consequences, like the consequences of not showing up for work on time, or not paying bills on time. You can do your best to set a proper example, and talk to your kids about what it means to be responsible. As they get older, you can give them tasks to be responsible and consequences for choosing to be responsible.
• As a parent, one of the best things you can do for your children is teach them about kindness. Kindness involves being able to see things from other people’s perspectives and caring about others’ feelings. It’s about reaching out to others with a smile or a kind word. When you model kindness for your kids, they will be more likely to show kindness themselves.
• If you are part of a spiritual community, take your child to services. Even though each religion has its differences, the basis for all the world’s religions is to treat others as we would like to be treated. Learning this simple, yet powerful concept is part of the foundation of being a good person.
• You can help set a good example for your children by treating others with respect. Showing them that respect is an important part of being a good person can go a long way in helping them become better people.
• Compassion and caring are important values to teach your children. You can lead by example by participating in charity work as a family. This can involve donating to food banks, visiting nursing homes, or helping with park cleanups. You can also offer to help an elderly or disabled neighbor with tasks like planting flowers or making a meal. By teaching your children the value of compassion, you’ll make the world a better place.
The best way to teach your child how to be a good person is by setting the example yourself. Show them how to do it with love and without resentment. When you do this, your kids will see your example and follow it.
