minti, powered by parents Powered by Parents
First Visit?     Register     Login
 

This site gets better with user participation. Please participate... Some of the main things you can do is rate this advice, add comments to this advice, add links to and from this advice, and/or write your own advice.

  email  print
  report   
Like this topic?
Write Advice
Add to Favorites
Advice that links to this one
ADVICE RATING
 (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) 4.57 (Highly recommend) from 8 votes (887 Visits)

Parenting Tips - How Moral Dilemmas Turn Kids into Independent Thinkers

JeanTracy by JeanTracy Talking(March 2007) (rank 71st)

Parenting Tips for Parents of Children K-6 grades:

Do your children choose well when faced with moral dilemmas? Would you like to prepare them to make good choices? Find out how to teach them to be make good decisions and build character too.

Recently my son, Brian, who is a young man now, asked, "Mom, remember how you always asked me when another kid was shamed, hurt, or bullied, 'How would you feel if that happened to you?'"
"Yes. Why?" I asked.
"That really made me think," he said.
Parents, that's exactly what you want your kids to do - think!

Listen. I know child-rearing is difficult. I know the disappointment when your child makes poor choices, skips out on chores, or treats others badly.

During my years as a child counselor, I created ways for kids to think, discuss, and make ethical decisions. My goal was to help them become independent thinkers rather than crowd followers. Now you can help your kids become independent thinkers by discussing moral dilemmas.

Moral Dilemmas build these 3 qualities in kids:

Logical thinking
Respect toward others
Family values

Empathy, respect, and honesty can evolve from frequent dilemma discussions.

Consider discussing this moral dilemma with your kids:

You are supposed to be home by dark. It is almost dark. You and your friend are in the middle of an exciting video game. If you left right now, you'd barely get home in time. What will you do? Why?

Get your children to discuss this dilemma with you and with each other. Listen to their answers. Is their reasoning logical? Do they respect the parent's guidance about coming home before dark? Are they developing family values? You'll know whether your own code of ethics is sinking in. When kids discuss moral dilemmas, you help them grow into people of character.

Moral Dilemmas should include:

Problems in school
Problems at home
Problems with friends

Create and discuss ethical dilemmas before real life problems happen. Get your kids to think about others' feelings. Get them to think logically. Get them to think right about wrong.

One more thing, when your kids discuss moral dilemmas, they'll be thinking bigger than themselves. They'll be creating a code of ethics with solutions. Why not build character now? Use dilemma discussions today.

Want more parenting tips like these? Get 21 of the BEST FREE TIPS at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com

You're invited to subscribe to our FREE PARENTING NEWSLETTER at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.

Treat your family to the DILEMMA DISCUSSION KIT at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and enjoy guiding your kids with family values.

Join Minti for free
Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of Minti.com Pty Ltd. If you are searching for health related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Terms of Service for more details.

Related Content:

Bookmarks:

ADVICE RATING
 (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) (Highly recommend) 4.57 (Highly recommend) from 8 votes
Report

Thankyou for your vote (you can change your vote at any time). Please leave some helpful comments about this advice using the box below.

ExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellent
GoodGoodGoodGoodGood
AverageAverageAverageAverageAverage
PoorPoorPoorPoorPoor
Very PoorVery PoorVery PoorVery PoorVery Poor

Voting help


 
Add a comment on this article.

 

emmie
November 18th | emmie
Re: Parenting Tips - How Moral Dilemmas Turn Kids into Independent Thinkers

great article

cheers



Reply Reply Report
rachelcook
4.50 (Excellent) | March 2007 | rachelcook
love it
Jean Tracey, it makes so much sense, yet I must stop and really in grain this into my style of parenting...although I know it will come naturally the more times I do this...I have put this article on my watch list and for more articles you publish. Thanks for making a difference in our parenting lives.


Reply Reply Report
      JeanTracy
5.00 (Excellent) | March 2007 | JeanTracy
love it

Hi Rachel,

I'm pleased that you read the article. I know your child is young yet. As your little one gets older, you have a treat in store for you. Using dilemmas, asking questions, and listening is so much fun. It's a wonderful way for your child to let you in on his world. Now I'm using them with my granddaughters. They love to offer their thoughts and advice and I love listening and asking questions.



Reply Reply Report

Know someone who would like this site? Refer a friend