Moral Development

Moral development is a part of child development easily overlooked since early childhood programs focus on more visible developmental areas such as motor and language development. And yet, moral development provides important life skills as children grow up and are required to make more independent choices. Here are some ways to encourage moral development in preschool children:

• Model moral behavior—One of the most powerful ways in which your child can learn about morally correct behavior is by watching you make the right choices and interact with people. When appropriate, explain to your child why you make certain choices and what the consequences will be if you did the opposite.
• Respect breeds respect —Even though your child is just a preschooler, you should treat him or her with respect for the person that he or she is. As your kids experience your respectful behavior (even when disciplining them!), they will learn to return the favor to you and to others when in similar situations.
• Teach them to think for themselves—This is one of the most important gifts parents can give to their kids. Teach them to become adept at problem solving by themselves by not doing everything for them and by not making all decisions concerning their life in their stead. Allow your kids to make simple choices, such as what they would like to wear on a particular day. When they come to you with a question, don’t provide the answer right away. Instead, you may ask, ‘What do you think?’ or ‘Can you think of a way to solve that problem?’
• Balance independence and control—One of the most difficult things in parenting is to balance roots with wings. Children need just the right amount of independence to foster growth. Too much independence can be overwhelming and can lead to feelings of abandonment, while too much control can breed feelings of contempt and rebellion. Aim to balance freedom with security rooted in family relationships.                                                                                                                                              

What exactly are the characteristics of morally upright people? Some of their most important characteristics include responsibility, kindness, integrity, truthfulness, sincerity, generosity, empathy, courage, and self-discipline. By encouraging moral development, you will see more and more of these traits emerge in your children’s character as they grow older.