Do you remember
the moment when you held your newborn for the first time?
Before long, you may have felt
overwhelmed, realizing that your child’s need for guidance would continue for
many years. The enormity of your responsibility quickly sank in.
WHILE the role of a parent has always
been challenging, it is especially so today. Why? Because the world is more
complex than it was when you were a child. Some of the moral challenges
children confront—when using the Internet, for example—did not even exist
just a few decades ago.
How can you help your child to deal
with the moral pitfalls of this modern world? Following are three suggestions.
1 Clearly state your values.
As children grow, they are buried in an
avalanche of misinformation about morals—some of it from their peers and much
of it from the media. Such negative influences become especially evident when
children enter the teen years. However, research shows that when it comes to
major decisions in life, many adolescents place higher value on their parents’
viewpoints than on those of their peers.
What you can do. Parents in
ancient Israel were encouraged to talk with their children frequently in order
to inculcate upright values in them. (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7) Do the same with your child. For
example, if you live by the Bible’s moral standards, tell your child why you
feel that adhering to those standards leads to the best way of life.
2 Help your
child understand consequences.
The Bible states: “Whatever a man is
sowing, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) The principle of cause and effect can be
observed in virtually every aspect of life. Think back to your own childhood.
No doubt the most memorable lessons you learned were those in which you had to
face the consequences of your actions.
What you can do. Using real-life
examples, explain to your child how those who adopted a wrong course suffered
or how those who did the right thing benefited. (Luke 17:31, 32; Hebrews 13:7) Also, do not shield your child from the
consequences of his or her own mistakes. Suppose, for example, that your son
carelessly breaks a toy belonging to another boy. You could require that your
son give one of his own toys to him. Your child will not quickly forget this
lesson on respecting the belongings of others.
3 Build positive traits.
A Bible proverb states: “Children show
what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.” (Proverbs 20:11, Good News Translation) As children
grow, they develop a pattern of conduct that characterizes them. Sadly, some
become known for their negative traits. (Psalm 58:3) But others build a solid, praiseworthy reputation.
For example, the apostle Paul wrote to a congregation regarding the young man
Timothy: “I have no one else of a disposition like his who will genuinely care
for the things pertaining to you.”—Philippians 2:20.
What you can do. In addition to emphasizing
consequences, as mentioned earlier, help your child think about the character
traits for which he or she would like to be known. When faced with a challenge,
young people can learn to make good decisions by asking themselves the following
questions:
·
What type of person do I want to be?—Colossians 3:10.
·
What would a person like that do in this situation?—Proverbs 10:1.
The Bible contains many true-life
examples of men and women whose actions defined them as being either good or
bad. (1 Corinthians 10:11; James 5:10, 11) Use these examples to help your son or
daughter build positive character traits.
The publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses
can help you see how to apply Bible principles in your family and how to help
your children do the same.
LEARN MORE AT www.jw.org
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