The Good Seed

When parents take time to involve their child in the activities they value, the child will feel that he himself is valued. If, on the other hand, parents focus primarily on their professional lives or their own leisure activities, the child will gravitate toward the values of his peers.

PARENTAL INFLUENCE
In past generations, teaching values and virtues to children only required parents to set a good example. This is not the case today. With the strong influences of the popular culture luring children away, it takes more work from parents to instill the values they hold dear and the virtues they admire.

In the Runquist family, for example, life revolves around sports. They hike together. They all play tennis. The kids play soccer, basketball and baseball. The Runquists also value academic achievement and gatherings with their extended family, but sports take high priority.

Athletics hold the family together, guarding the children from many negative influences. On the playing field or tennis court, the Runquist children learn sportsmanship, fairness, courage and humility from parents, coaches, team members and even opponents. Sports provide the path to instill the virtues the Runquists value most.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Would you like to reinforce your values with the effectiveness of the Runquists? Read on for some techniques that will help you do just that.

Jan Faull, a child-development and behavior specialist, is in her 25th year as a parent-education instructor and public speaker. She is the author of the recently published UNPLUGGING POWER STRUGGLES as well as MOMMY! I HAVE TO GO POTTY!, a guide to toilet training. Faull lives with her husband and three children in Renton, Washington.