Jonah Engler’s List of 3 Values to Encourage In Children at a Young Age

One of the most fulfilling and wholesome aspects of parenthood is being able to witness your child grow, change, and pave a path of their own. It is truly an opportunity that no parent wants to miss out on. While wondering about your children’s future can be exciting, it is also at times nerve-wracking. What careers will they choose? What hobbies will they have? How will their personality turn out? These are common questions parents find themselves pondering over.

Although we cannot control every aspect of their future, we can try our level best to ensure our little ones grow up to be good human beings. Indeed, the values kids learn in their childhood serve as the bedrock for who they are. Jonah Engler recommends focusing on instilling the following values in your little one by the age of 10 to help strengthen their foundation:

Honesty

You should focus on two values right from the start: honesty and integrity. The best tactic to enforce a truthful disposition in your child is modeling honesty yourself. Kids are like a sponge. Even at a young age, they start absorbing the actions of those around them. White lies, even those told in confidence, can trigger a lack of honesty. Being truthful with your kid will often lead to uncomfortable conversations, but this is part of the lesson. While the path to truth may not be easy, it is always worthwhile.

Most kids go through a phase of lying when growing up, especially to avoid the repercussions of their actions. Jonah Engler suggests approaching such situations calmly, allowing them the opportunity to express the truth. Never punish your child for their honesty; instead, appreciate their honesty when owning up to their actions.

Accountability
No matter how old your kid is, they should know that their words and actions hold consequences. They should know that they alone are responsible for themselves and that no other person is to blame for their behavior. Accountability promotes self-sufficiency and independence, encouraging kids to take ownership of their successes and failures.

Start by modeling accountability in your actions. This means admitting when you’re wrong and apologizing for making a mistake. Empower your kids to take control of their emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms. For instance, teach them to navigate emotions like anger, sadness, and anxiety by taking deep breaths, journaling, or meditating.

Empathy

Jonah Engler believes that empathy is the core value of healthy relationships. It’s an attribute that

helps build stronger connections, regulates emotions, and promotes gratitude. It would be best to teach your children to recognize that different people have different experiences. In life not everyone is dealt with the same hand, and acceptance of others’ feelings is key to forming any connection.

You can promote empathy by encouraging kids to place themselves in others’ shoes and understand their circumstances before making judgments. Teach them to accept others’ opinions no matter how different they are from their own. Validate your child’s emotions and give them the freedom to speak openly. Read them novels and try to enforce the concept by explaining everyday examples.

Jonah Engler understands that parenting is no easy task. Know that children what they see and the easiest way to promote healthy traits in your child is by modeling them in your everyday actions.