As parents, we try to teach our kids values on a daily basis. One way to do this is by example. Many families take it a step further and actually create a written family values statement. Similar to a company’s mission statement, your family values statement is a written set of beliefs and behavior guidelines that everyone in your family agrees to live by.
To write your family values statement everyone will need to be involved in the process. A good time to work on it is during family meetings, if you have them. If not, you will have to call a special meeting to talk about and create your statement.
Your family values statement will be based on your family’s beliefs. For example, if you don’t condone spanking, on your list you might write, “In our family, we do not condone the use of physical punishment as a disciplinary method.” The family values statement applies to all members of the family, not just the kids.
Here are a few more examples of the type of statements a family might include on their family value statements, taken from the book, Positive Parenting From A to Z, by Karen Joslin:
“We use words to express how we feel.”
“We do not use bad language in our house.”
“We will not damage the property of others.”
When you sit down to write your statement, there are a few questions you can use to stimulate conversation and help you to phrase your statements.
(1) How do we expect family members to express themselves when they are angry?
(2) How important is it for our family to spend time together?
(3) How important are manners to this household?
Your statement should be relatively brief. Just remember not to include family rules in the statements; you can always create a separate statement for rules. Once you have completed your statement you should post it where everyone and see it.
See also:
Character Education Begins At Home
Rehearsing Appropriate Behavior