How do you teach kids to be moral, kind, and respectful when many successful people aren't?

[Anonymous]

I don't know how you can teach kids to be well behaved and good people when many powerful people aren't. Just look at the politicians we have. I also know many people who scream everyday at work and call people useless or the r word who managed to get promoted to director at Fortune 100 companies. Society doesn't value being respectful. I personally wish I was more of an aggressive a hole growing up to be honest

[Anonymous]

It has gotten much harder. We put our kids in private schools that emphasize kindness and have classes on morals and ethics. And of course you are the main model - so be kind!

[Anonymous]

You have to model it. I always told my kids it is more important to be a good person than to have wealth. Success is what you do in your life to help others. Recently with everything going on in the world, I stress that the world needs more decent people and we triumph by being good.

I am also religious so that is a big part of it. On this site, I know I will get oushback. A paramedic does more good for the world than a bunch of rich bankers. Stop focusing on status.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher. I always give praise to my kind students. When I see them helping others, I tell them how much I respect them for it. I also always tell their parents during conferences. If they have good grades, I stress that even more important than their grades is their child's good character. I also do the same with struggling students.

I think good wins in the end. If I look at my students, most are really good people. I have hope.

[Anonymous]

I don't find it that hard to raise a kind kid, but I do sometimes worry I'm setting her up to fail because our culture values other qualities over kindness. I am kind and very ethical and it has led to being taken advantage of more than once.

[Anonymous]

Many powerful people are not in control of their emotions entirely. You can teach them all you want.
My friend is very hands on with her child. His brain just works differently. She even says that his brain being different doesn't mean he can be rude or do mean/bad things.
She got a call from school the other day that he promised to shoot someone.
This woman has done everything in her power to make sure he would be a good human being.

[Anonymous]

Define success differently (not money!) and focus on your values. I’m not saying kids won’t deviate from what you taught them and go in banking or toxic tech or similar, but you can still use the time they are with you to lay a good foundation focusing on values and helping society.

[Anonymous]

You model it.

You praise it when you see it. With genuine, specific praise.

You raise kindness as a value of your household.

[Anonymous]

Lead by example and call out bad behavior in others when you see it.

[Anonymous]

Just look at Abigail Spanberger:

- she is forcing a rotten gambling casino on Fairfax county even though the overwhelming majority of the county doesn’t want it.

[Anonymous]

You model it daily. You praise them when it happens. Success and being a good person have nothing to do with wealth and stature.

[Anonymous]

Sociopaths tend to make more money. Capitalism is ruthless and rewards this. Success doesn't have to be measured by wealth. We raise kind, empathetic kids but they also need to know to stand up for themselves.

[Anonymous]

You model it yourselves and with who you surround yourselves with. Our kids have plenty of examples of successful people who are kind and are good examples of who we want our kids to be.

[Anonymous]

Go to church. Last week was Youth Sunday. The youth led the church service— they modeled it. They were brought up in the kindness and goodness of the wonderful church community. Their parents model kindness, love, and service to others. Their whole church body models love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You model it daily. You praise them when it happens. Success and being a good person have nothing to do with wealth and stature.

This is what I was going to say. I’m a preschool teacher and kindness is our basis for everything. It requires a lot of slowing down and being mindful.