We seem to be too worried about 'the rules' and enforcing them, that as parents we aren't looking at the big picture of our children's lives. It's in the big picture where positive values and morals are seen. It's not whether your teen got an 'A' on his science project, it's if he values what an education is going to do for him. Which is a catch-22, because if he values the education, he'll strive for the 'A'. Learn why it's important to teach values with this article.
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I not only give the rules, but explain the rules. Like the example above, its not about getting the A its working your hardest because of what you want in the end. Using Consequences, etc, I think helps.
I mean really most of the rules are set up to protect and teach, so in explaining why “we don’t lie” or “why you have to be home at” or “why you can’t go to”. A really good example something my daughter wanted to do, it coincided with something else she had a commitment to and she when I pointed it out, Oh yea, I can’t because I have to, darn. I spent a lot of years saying “NO you can’t because you have to…” and now she is starting to get that already at age 14.
So I guess the repeated “why” over the years is really what enforces a lot. Example is good too, if I lie to my mom and DD knows, then she will lie to me, cause lying to mom is OK.