The Family Values Toolkit
July 7, 2010
The idea of responsibility can be difficult to define. What does it mean? Why is it important? And how do we talk about it?
With the help of psychology experts, our partners at Beliefnet have developed a Family Values Toolkit designed to help parents teach their children what it means to do the right thing. Structured around eight of the core values that underlie ethical behavior, the program consists of downloadable guides customized for different age groups. Inside each, you’ll find an overview of what the value means, plus goals and activities that promote thinking and discussion.
Featured Values:
Generosity
Generous people freely give or share what they value — such as possessions, money, time, or love — in a positive spirit. Giving makes them feel good, not deprived or resentful.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Tolerance
A tolerant person accepts diversity and doesn’t prejudge others on the basis of religion, race, or gender. How a person treats those who appear different depends on what he or she is taught in childhood.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Honesty
Honest people consistently hold themselves to a high standard of truthfulness. They communicate in an open, upfront way; they do not lie, steal, cheat, or manipulate information to conceal it from others.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Respect
Respect refers to the belief that other people have as much worth and dignity as oneself, and deserve to be treated with care and courtesy.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Courage
Courage is what propels kids to reach new milestones — from learning to walk to learning to stand up for their convictions.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Empathy
Empathy — the quality that underlies love, caring, and compassion — is the foundation of the Golden Rule, “Do unto others, as you would have them do to you.”
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Responsibility
Responsibility means doing what’s right — even if the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Patience
Patience is the ability to endure a difficult situation without complaining. It means showing self-control and staying calm in the face of frustration or boredom.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Cooperation
Cooperation — working in harmony with others to achieve a goal — is vital not only to a happy, successful life, but also to a peaceful and harmonious world.
Select an age group to download a printable Beliefnet guide (PDF) from our site:
Find More ///
- in Kids & Family, Education
- in Partners
- about Beliefnet, psychology
Related ///
Should Cursive Be Saved?
Cursive handwriting — the looping letters of flowing script — is disappearing from schools. Do we have a responsibility to save it?
Europe Deems 2014 the Year Against Food Waste
Should we take waste stats more seriously?
Tony
Tate Donovan stars in this George Clooney-produced film about recovering a child’s lost teddy bear.
In Seeds We Trust
In rural Iowa, one of the country’s largest seed banks quietly preserves the biodiversity of our food—and with it, important pieces of our history.
RP Roundtable: College Sports
Is there a lack of responsibility in collegiate athletics? Our panel weighs in.
Is Yoga Bad for You?
A new debate has taken hold over yoga’s health benefits, or lack thereof.