Children Are What Their Mothers Make Of Them

Since God could not be present everywhere, He created mothers.

- Shri K.K.Bajaj

In today’s fast-paced world, where unequivocal role models are few and acts of violence by children are on the rise, moral values need to be taught to them. But such morality doesn’t appear overnight, it emerges slowly, over time. Parents are becoming increasingly aware that even very young children can grasp moral behaviors.

Child experts agree that to be held responsible, children must have both an emotional and cognitive awareness of right and wrong - In other words, to know that what they did was wrong. Understand that no matter how hard you try, you can’t force your child to be moral. But you can change his / her behavior by religious and moral teachings. Child experts suggest as under:

• Decide your values: What qualities, such as honesty and hard work are most important to you? Then act the way you want your children to act.

• Praise good behaviors: Rather than criticizing a toddler for his messy room, compliment him on the neat corner.

• Take advantage of teachable moments: “When my children were three and four they found a 10 rupee note in the front of a store. I explained to them the value of money, and they agreed to return the money to the shopkeeper” writes a child expert.

• Watch what your child watches: Children who watch a lot of violence on television have a heightened risk of aggressive adult behavior.

• Discuss consequences: In case of indiscipline, parents can ask their children to help them pick fair punishments - for example, not television.