Practical Ideas for Teaching Integrity: Part 2

Apr 4, 2013 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

On Tuesday we gave you a list of ideas on how to train your children to live a life of Integrity. Here are some more. Notice the ideas for the parents. We as parents must live out the value before we can expect our children to follow it. Be people of Integrity.

All Ages:

• Encourage your child to set the bar high on personal expectations.
• Insist that your child keep his or her word – “If you said you’d do it, do it.”
• Have your child stick with responsibilities to a reasonable conclusion. For example, if you start on a ball team, complete the season. If you take piano lessons, finish the semester. If you sign up for a volunteer position, be there when you are scheduled or find a replacement.

Ages 2-5:

• Give them a responsibility that helps the family, like folding napkins for the dinner table.
• Praise your child when he or she helps out doing something that you didn’t ask him or her to do.

Ages 6-10:

• Talk to your child about loyalty to teachers, coaches, or other instructors. God has placed those people in authority.
• Set high expectations for your child’s grades while honoring the child’s level of capability. Encouragement is huge at this age. Set boundaries on distractions life TV and the Internet.

Ages 11-17:

• Instruct your child to be loyal to a friend who hurts or betrays him or her. (It happens to every teenager at one time or another.)
• Stay on top of what your child is doing in regards to homework and tests. Children are often tempted to slack off at this age. Inspire your child with ideas, encouragement, and praise. Continue to set boundaries on distractions like TV and the Internet.
• If your child has a job, ask his or her employer periodically about your child’s work ethic. As a parent, you have every right to follow up.

Parents:

• Keep your commitments.
• Always show loyalty to the authorities over you and to your spouse and kids. If you have complaints, don’t do it in front of your kids.
• Be a volunteer at church and perhaps in other non-profit organizations.

We’d love to hear what ideas you have to train your children to live lives of Integrity. It takes a village….

~Jim and Jerolyn