In other words, it is not always what we see that matters as our teens go out into the world. Every day your teen is confronted with making decisions that could have positive or negative outcomes. Meaningful morals, values, ethics, and belief systems are things that children look to their parents for guidance throughout their lives.
Be an eParent®! Bookmark your favorite websites that explore your family values and share them with your teen!
Another great mind, Anna Freud wrote in 1958, “It is normal for an adolescent to behave in an inconsistent and unpredictable manner. He can be more idealistic, artistic, generous, and unselfish than he will ever be again, but also the opposite: self-centered, egotistic, calculating.” Some things never change. Teenagers need to experiment with different identities before settling into their own adult personality. When you openly share your values with your teen, you help your teen understand more clearly why those might be an important part of his or her identity.
One potential discussion topic is the role of family values in the workplace or our public policy, here’s one perspective.
To learn more contact UW-Extension Family Living Programs or like Family Living on Facebook.