Teaching Right from Wrong Forty Things you can do to Raise a Moral Child

by Dobrin, Arthur

• ISBN13: 9780425178225
• ISBN10: 0425178226
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-01
• Publisher: Berkley Trade

Summary

Caring parents want to raise children who are kind, trustworthy, considerate and fair. But sometimes it seems like there's no shortage of bad examples to lead them astray.

Based on sound psychological theory, drawing on current research—and most importantly, rooted in the real world that parents face today—this book shows how children develop a moral sensibility, and what parents can do to refine and reinforce it. Wise, warm, and thoroughly practical, this is an essential book for all loving parents—who want to raise loving children.

Parents will learn...

* How "ethical intelligence" can be nurtured—even in a child's earliest years

* How television, religion, and peers can shape—or short-circuit—a child's moral development

* How to recognize and avoid some of the most common errors parents make

Author Biography

Arthur Dobrin has led the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island for more than thirty years and is a professor of humanities at Hofstra University

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Feelings: Emotions Are the Groundwork of Morality	p. 7
Tune In to Your Children's Feelings	p. 18
Talk About How You Think Others May Be Feeling	p. 20
Comment on Your Own Emotions	p. 22
Sing to and Hold Your Children	p. 24
Read Imaginative Stories to Your Children	p. 26
Reason: Feelings Need to Be Guided by Reason	p. 29
Give Reasons Why You Approve or Disapprove of Your Children's Behavior	p. 46
Provide Reasons for Rules You Want Your Children to Follow	p. 49
Encourage Your Children to Play with Children of Various Ages	p. 51
Engage Your Children in Reflective Discussions by Asking Open-Ended Questions	p. 53
Promote Independent Thinking	p. 57
Self-Esteem: Self-Respect Is a Prerequisite to Acting Morally	p. 59
Treat Your Children with Respect	p. 73
Express Interest in Your Children's Activities, Projects, and Dreams	p. 76
Help Set Goals and Encourage Your Children to See Them Through	p. 79
Praise a Task Well Done	p. 80
Give Your Children Emotional and Verbal Support to Stand Against the Crowd When Necessary	p. 82
Discipline: Behavior Has Consequences	p. 85
Be Flexible--Not Arbitrary--in Your Discipline	p. 96
Don't Use Intimidation; Never Use Ridicule	p. 98
The Severity of the Punishment Should Be Related to the Severity of the Wrongdoing	p. 102
Discipline with Explanations	p. 104
Criticize in Private	p. 106
Habits: Morality Is Learned Through Observation and Doing	p. 109
Provide Opportunities for Your Children to Help Others	p. 120
Give Positive Verbal and Nonverbal Feedback for Being a Good Person	p. 122
Work with Your Children in Community and Volunteer Service	p. 124
Expect and Encourage Good Deeds from Your Children	p. 126
Help Your Children Keep Promises	p. 128
Prejudice: Treating All People Fairly Is Fundamental to Morality	p. 131
Examine Your Own Biases	p. 144
Provide Examples That Counteract Society's Prejudices	p. 146
Don't Allow Biased or Bigoted Comments to Go Unchallenged	p. 148
Give Your Children Books That Show Different Kinds of People Playing, Working, and Living Together	p. 150
Talk About Differences Between People, but Talk About Them Neutrally	p. 152
Values: Some Values Are More Important Than Others	p. 155
Tell Your Children About the People You Admire and Why	p. 165
Live Your Life As You Want Your Children to Lead Theirs	p. 167
Show the Importance of Protecting the Vulnerable	p. 169
Comment on Compassionate Behavior--Let Your Children Know That Caring Is an Important Value	p. 171
Let Your Children Know What You Value and Why You Value It	p. 173
Community: Morality Is Social	p. 175
Supervise Your Children's Television Viewing	p. 189
Get Involved with Your Children's Education	p. 191
Make Family Meals Important and Regular Occasions	p. 193
Make Time for Your Children	p. 194
Take an Interest in the World Outside Your Home	p. 197
Afterword	p. 199
Selected References	p. 201
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