Don’t tell your children whom they have to show affection to. For example, don’t say, “Kiss Grandma before she goes home!” Instead, let them decide how they feel comfortable saying goodbye to grandma. Conversely, it is also important to teach your children that they need to ask permission before touching anyone else. Encourage them to ask Grandma if they can give her a kiss when they have said that they would like to do so.
For example, let your daughters engage in physical activity, and let them do it the same way that boys do (if that’s what they want). Don’t discourage them from climbing on the monkey bars because you’re worried they’re too fragile. Conversely, don’t discourage a boy from liking something because it’s pink, and don’t say things like “big boys don’t cry” when he feels sad about something.
For example, research suggests that children who feel secure and loved are more likely to be empathetic. Spend time talking with your child about different emotions and about how emotions can affect our behavior. It doesn’t matter how young your child is: talking to them about their own feelings, as well as your own, will help them understand that everyone has different experiences. Set a good example for your children. Being empathetic yourself is a great way to teach children about empathy. If you and your child witness someone who is going through a hard time (e. g. a homeless person on the street), talk with your child, and ask them how they think that person must be feeling. Expose them to different types of people. Help your children see that people can be quite different when you venture outside your own group of friends. Expose your children to the different cultures and experiences that the world has to offer. For example, you could take them on a trip to a foreign country. While you are visiting that country, ask them to identify what is different about the local people. However, also ask them to notice how they are similar to those people.
This applies to more than merely political values. It also refers to cultural and religious differences as well as the other ways in which people can be different.
You can demonstrate why this is important by pointing out ways that you or someone you know has been helped through a tough situation by a social support program. You can use an example like this: “Last year Aunt Sarah was fired from her job, and she was very worried for awhile about how she could take care of her family without a paycheck. However, she was able to get money from the government to help feed her family while she looked for a new job. ” You can demonstrate the value of social support programs by asking a child what they think should be done in a particular situation. For example, if you see a homeless person asking for money on the street, ask your children how they would help that person. Compare their response to something the government might do.
One good way to talk about this topic with your kids is to ask them about how they have been taught to solve problems with friends at school. Emphasize that violence is never an appropriate means for solving problems. Point out that many governments resort to violence when trying to solve problems but in the end leave many families feeling sad because they have lost someone they care about.
You can talk with your children about your own family history. Unless you are a Native American, your ancestors immigrated to the US from somewhere else. Point out how many families would like to come to the US to have good lives just like your children have.
Similarly, be in favor of offering women several methods of birth control. Taking a pro-choice stance doesn’t necessarily mean you think women should get an abortion whenever they feel like it. It does mean, however, that you support giving women (and men) lots of different ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. This may be a difficult topic to discuss with your child directly, but you can demonstrate that every one should have the right to choose what to do with their body. For example, you can remind your child that they don’t have to touch or kiss anyone if they don’t feel like it. Point out that everyone has this right, no matter their gender.
Talk with your kids about sexuality. You can explain to them that just because they are a girl doesn’t mean they have to “like" boys, and vice versa. Explain how there are many boys who like boys, and girls who like girls, and some who like both boys and girls. Ask your children what they think about gay marriage, and why they think what they think. Ask them if they believe that a person should be allowed to marry the person they love regardless of their gender, as long as the other person also wants to get married. Showing your child that you are open to conversations and questions on any topic will make them more open to discussing topics that they find difficult.
For example, you may feel very strongly about raising children who are tolerant and open-minded, but you may not care too much about what religion they follow, if they follow any religion at all. You can talk with your children about religion, but don’t make it the most important thing. Instead, focus on setting examples of tolerance. Talk about what can happen when people are narrow-minded and intolerant. In one study liberal parents reported that teaching tolerance was of primary importance. [7] X Research source If you have a partner with whom you are raising a child, spend time talking with your partner about what values you want to instill. This could be challenging if the two of you have differing political views. Try to find a middle ground or at least a few areas you can agree on.
This doesn’t mean you can’t talk to them about your political beliefs and why you hold them. Instead, it means that you should avoid being dogmatic about your beliefs, and try to avoid saying negative things about conservatives in front of your children. Explain both sides of the story, and talk about why you feel liberal values are best for you. Ask them their opinions about things without first telling them what you think. Learn about who they are and how they feel without applying pressure they might come to resent.
For example, your child may come home from a sleepover and tell you that Jimmy’s dad told Jimmy’s mom that anyone who believes gay marriage is acceptable is an idiot. Your child may ask you why that is. In a situation like this, you may feel very angry that Jimmy’s dad was saying this in front of your child. Instead of getting angry, however, say something like, “Well, Jimmy’s dad might think that is true, and he is entitled to believe that, but gay people are entitled to love whom they love and marry the person who wants to marry them. Do you think that people should be able to marry the person they love, or that they shouldn’t be allowed to because someone else doesn’t like it?” Presenting your response as a conversation in which you explain your own beliefs as logically as possible helps your child to make the idea their own and decide what makes sense to them.
For example, many people start out somewhere on the political spectrum and then move to the other side for some reason. Talk to your children about your early views and why you eventually became a more liberal person. Give examples of events that led you to believe in more liberal values. Keep in mind that when it comes to values, there is not usually an objectively correct answer. There is only a belief in a morally correct answer. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid being dogmatic.
You can explain to children why you don’t agree with conservative values, but do so respectfully without using hateful or derogatory language.
For example, be tolerant of people who are different from you. Don’t criticize someone just because they disagree with you. Try volunteering for a political movement that you support, and bring your kids along. Opt for peaceful movements where your child will be able to see liberal people at their best. Avoid movements that are violent, as this may frighten your child.
For example, explain to them the two main parties in the US (Democratic and Republican) as well as some of the other parties (e. g. , Green Party, Tea Party, Libertarians, etc. ). Talk about the values of these parties, and give some examples of members of each party. Explain how in the US everyone over the age of 18 is entitled to vote in elections that will help decide who will run the country. Explain how elected leaders are supposed to represent the will of the people who elected them.
This doesn’t mean that you should keep them away from people who have different values. As they grow older, children will have to learn to deal with the fact that people are different. Since tolerance is a liberal value, showing them that there are people who think differently is important. If they spend time with someone who has strong conservative values, address the matter with your child. For example, you can say, “Today you are going to spend time with Grandpa. Grandpa is a good and kind man, but sometimes he might say something that you don’t think is right. Try to remember that even though he has some different ideas about things, he loves you very much and you love him, too. We don’t have to agree on everything to be a close family. ”
