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Teaching Children to be Ethical

Ethical, the dictionary defines ethical as consistent with agreed principles of correct moral conduct. When our conduct is ethical, it is also morally correct. Good moral teachings was once a part of our classroom curriculum. We chose to take such teachings out of the classroom but we also stopped teaching our children to be ethical at home. Where do you suppose they are suppose to learn to be ethical; if not at home, then where?

The news and the newspapers have been filled lately with adults, business people and politicians, who have failed miserably in the area of ethical behavior. Teaching our children to be ethical should be paramount in our endeavors as parents. Teaching principals of correct moral conduct should begin in the home environment. Parents should demonstrate good moral conduct in the presence of their children and explain why good moral conduct is important to them personally and to the society in which they live in general. Societies who have failed to uphold a standard of good and ethical behavior have failed. History is replete with them.

For example, when someone calls your home, don't instruct your child to answer the telephone and inform the caller, you are not at home, if you are there. It just might happen later in the day you find yourself chastising the same child for lying to you. The point is, teaching good ethics to children is a serious job, and it is a process of practice as well as teaching. It is not "naturally acquired." Efforts must be made to show that being ethical is a serious matter.

Teaching ethics should not be overshadowed with hypocrisy or the children will recognize it as such. We should be the first examples of moral, ethical people our children see in order for them to emulate our example. We tell them and we show them the value of living a moral and ethical life. It is all about wanting what is best for our children. We cannot be remiss in teaching chldren to live the most rewarding and productive lives possible in a world that is ever changing but ethical living will alway be necessary to live well.

At such a time in our history when Wall Street bankers are lying and governors are being put out of office for unethical conduct, there is definitely a need for ethical training and explaining in our homes.Children are confused as to what is "right" and "wrong" in our society. They see unethical, even criminal behavior on television from people in the business world and in the political arena on television. Someone has to explain that even though these individuals are well-educated and financially secure, ponzi schemes are just as criminal as the "poor Joe" who gets locked up for being drunk and loitering.

The difference between what is moral and consistent with the principals our society lives by should be the same for everyone in the society. Encouragement should begin at home, at an early age. We as parents should be consistent in teaching discipline, work ethics, responsibility, honesty, truth, respect and personal integrity. We should demand it of other adults, who are in leadership roles and are role models for our children. If we demand less of others and ourselves we can expect failure in the moral fabric of our society.

Learn more about this author, Ann Nurse.
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