TEN MORAL LESSONS TO TEACH YOUR SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

Back to school season is usually a period when most parents and school-going kids are in turmoil.
While parents may be struggling to get school fees and money for other school items, children may not be mentally ready to go back to school after the long holidays.

Amid all the overwhelming events, parents can easily forget the vital aspect of talking to their children before school begins.
Here are some of the morals that will greatly impact your child’s school life.

1. Love
   Teach your children to love themselves and not to allow others define them. They should not be weighed down by things they cannot have.
   Instead, show them that it’s possible to acquire whatever they want and it only requires a little more focus and determination.
   This virtue should also extend to others in their classroom, such as sharing and caring for that student who is struggling.
2. Confidence
   Show them how to be confident towards their mates, teachers, staff and everyone around them.
   Self-confidence is what will enable your child to stand and speak in front of their mates and teachers without fidgeting. It is through confidence that they will tackle exams without being scared or feigning sickness.
   Emphasise on the value of this virtue.
3. Hard work
   While parents hardly forget to mention this virtue, there are two sides of the coin.
   Teach your child to work hard, but also remind them that failing in an exams doesn’t necessarily make them failures in life.
   When their hard work doesn’t bear any fruit, teach them how to cope with failure and overcome negative feelings.
4. Honesty
   To what extent can yourchild be honest with themselves and others?
   Can they stand up in a group of students cheating in an exam and say, ‘No, I won’t take part in this vice.’
   You may not know what they are or are not capable of in school, but your guidance will determine who they become.
5. Self-discipline
   Without this virtue, it may be impossible to achieve anything. Teach your child to set goals and targets and develop a viable strategy for everything they want to achieve.
   Commitments to strategies will show their level of self-discipline. Teach them how to stay motivated while still focusing on the goals.
6. Open-mindedness
   Intelligent students are open-minded. They accommodate their fellows who may not always agree with them in every issue.
   An open mind can easily learn a lot, not only in school, but also in the real world. Instil this virtue in them for a peaceful co-existence with everyone around them.
7. You Deserve To Be Respected And Loved: You must allow your kid to freely express his/her emotions. Shower him/her with love and respect and also guide them to do the same for you as well. Your child considers you to be her biggest role model. How you act and what you expect will influence her actions in the future.
8. Challenges Will Make You Stronger: You must teach your kids that challenges make him/her strong and it gives a chance to develop as better humans. For instance, you must not rush to their rescue when they have trouble drawing something. Allow them to figure out the problem. This will help them enhance their skills. You can give them the tools to solve their own problems. This will make them a better person in the future.
9. You Are What You Think Of Yourself: You must not say anything negative about yourself in front of your kids. Don’t say how ‘lazy’ or ‘stupid’ you are at times. Your kid may start copying you and start thinking negatively about himself. Bring in intentional goals for yourself and show him how to achieve them. This will offer a better understanding to him.
10. We Are All Humans, We Make Mistakes: You must teach them that we tend to have bad days at times and that we all can make mistakes. We get distracted by issues or it is just the differences in opinion that matters.

Essentially, while teachers have a role to instil discipline in students, most of the virtues should not be left out to be taught by them. Our values are not limited to a school or classroom.
The virtues become part of our daily life and help us become better people. This is why every parent should aim to teach their children to be better people in the society.