Value to Children
At the outset I thank the school
for giving me an opportunity to talk about the values we try to inculcate in
our children and the philosophy we follow for our parenting.
I would first let you know our
understanding of values followed by how these values can be imparted to our
little jewels. We know that children of today will be at the centre stage, as
they grow up, in determining social, cultural, scientific and technological
upliftment of the country. This will require them to be a responsible citizen of
the country with mental and emotional maturity to deal with the difficulties
and setbacks they might face in their life. This requires a true philosophical
and spiritual basis too. Therefore, parenting is to create a strong foundation
of ethical and moral principles in the childhood so that they can build upon
these values, as they grow, to become a matured (mental, emotional and
analytical) and responsible human being.
If parents don’t accept this
responsibility, then the void may be filled by negative forces that do not
support healthy morals and ethics for our families and society.
At tender age of up to around
10-12 years, there are basically two learning centres (School and home). The
school and teachers do their best to impart such values, knowledge and
discipline.
But, what about home? Children emulate
their parents, particularly in imbibing moral values. However, their
intelligence, likings, interests may differ. Therefore, we have to ensure that
we personally have all those values that we want to inculcate in our children (i.e.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE). If we want our children to grow up to be respectful,
compassionate and honest, we need to first strive for these qualities within
ourselves. The children should not witness a contradiction between school teaching
and the values exemplified at home. Our lessons can quickly be forgotten if our
children watch us contradict what we try to teach.
It is therefore an imperative for
parents to strive for developing values in themselves before they educate or
expect such value inculcation in their children.
Values we need to impart to our
children through our examples: (WE DON’T DO TO OTHERS WHAT WE DON’T WANT FOR
US)
1) Courtesy
and respect: Do not respect people based only on power, money and muscle
power (This has become a norm today). Respect people as human beings, whatever
economic or social strata they belong to. Respect women (their individuality,
identity, emotions) and make your wife and daughters equal partners in family
decisions. See how we treat our domestic help and people around us.
2) Honesty:
Be honest in your deeds and let it reflect in your actions. Listen to children
and applaud them for telling the truth. Yelling at children make them fearful
and then they start telling lies.
3) Puctuality
and dependability: Practice punctuality and keep promises. If you
are not able to do that sometimes, this needs to be with due permission from or
persuasion of the concerned person (i.e. children) well within time.
4) Responsibility:
Responsible adults make their children responsible. Take responsibility for
both the good and bad actions you do. This helps your children learn not to
blame others for things they have done wrong. Make your children to do house
chores e.g. cleaning, helping parents in kitchen, making their beds, ironing
their clothes, helping elderly family members etc. Allow them enjoy
independence as per their age and take decisions on their own.
5) Let
them make their own path: Parents are not for making children’s life easier
or luxurious. Their job is not to be in front and give their children a smooth
path. They are expected to equip their children with all the tools necessary so
that they can make their own path smooth. Love your children (show emotions and
provide) but only to the extent that your love does not spoil them.
6) Hobby:
Make them develop a reading habit and befriend with books. You too have to have
this habit. Do not restrict only with physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology
and commerce. Make them read history, literature, sociology, classic children’s
novels, philosophical discourses and religious books too. Allow them enough
time for outdoor games for their physical fitness.
7) Engagement:
Spend quality time with children through outdoor or indoor activities, teaching
lessons, talking about values, talking about family decisions and their bases, cooking
together, reading stories and discussing, watching television together, so on
and so forth.
After making all the efforts and
fulfilling our responsibilities, we have to leave other things on what God has
in store for all of us.
- Speech for children at a school function
