Parenting Tips - How Moral Dilemmas Turn Kids Into Independent Thinkers

By Jean Tracy

Parenting Tips for Parents of Children K-6 grades:

Do your children choose well when faced with moral dilemmas? Would you like to prepare them to make good choices? Find out how to teach them to be make good decisions and build character too.

Recently my son, Brian, who is a young man now, asked, "Mom, remember how you always asked me when another kid was shamed, hurt, or bullied, 'How would you feel if that happened to you?'" "Yes. Why?" I asked. "That really made me think," he said. Parents, that's exactly what you want your kids to do - think!

Listen. I know child-rearing is difficult. I know the disappointment when your child makes poor choices, skips out on chores, or treats others badly.

During my years as a child counselor, I created ways for kids to think, discuss, and make ethical decisions. My goal was to help them become independent thinkers rather than crowd followers. Now you can help your kids become independent thinkers by discussing moral dilemmas.

Moral Dilemmas build these 3 qualities in kids:

Logical thinking
Respect toward others
Family values

Empathy, respect, and honesty can also evolve from frequent dilemma discussions.

Consider discussing this moral dilemma with your kids:

You are supposed to be home by dark. It is almost dark. You and your friend are in the middle of an exciting video game. If you left right now, you'd barely get home in time. What will you do? Why?

Get your children to discuss this dilemma with you and with each other. Listen to their answers. Is their reasoning logical? Do they respect the parent's guidance about coming home before dark? Are they developing family values? You'll know whether your own code of ethics is sinking in. When kids discuss moral dilemmas, you help them grow into people of character.

Moral Dilemmas should include:

Problems in school
Problems at home
Problems with friends

Create and discuss ethical dilemmas before real life problems happen. Get your kids to think about others' feelings. Get them to think logically. Get them to think right about wrong.

One more thing, when your kids discuss moral dilemmas, they'll be thinking larger than themselves. They'll be creating a code of ethics with solutions. Why not build character now? Use dilemma discussions today.

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Treat your family to the DILEMMA DISCUSSION KIT at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and enjoy guiding your kids with family values.

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