The family values that you have define how you want to live your family life and are often passed down from previous generations. They can help you define your behavior in various situations, help you make good choices, and solidify the bond you have with your family. If you don’t have these values in place, know that it is never too late to establish them.
Types of Values
Different families will have different values, but there are some categories of values that are similar between families.
Social Values
Social values consist of things like peace, justice, freedom, equality, and bettering our community. Examples of social values include:
- Not hurting others and also standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves
- Being respectful and courteous in your interactions
- Volunteering time and skills in the community
- Being generous with what you have
- Being honest with others
- Participating in teamwork whenever possible
Political Values
Although being a liberal, conservative, or moderate may determine your opinion on how the government should run and what laws should be enacted, certain political values remain constant across political parties. American values often include:
- Exceptionalism – that America is a land of limitless opportunities and, as such, must act as an example to other countries.
- Capitalism and private ownership of property
- Patriotism
- Treating everyone equally, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual orientation
- Being open-minded to new things
- Following the law and respecting those who enforce it
- Working hard for success
Religious Values
The values of religion revolve around the ideals that individuals have concerning themselves and others, which are based on the principles of their faith. Examples of religious values include:
- Showing compassion to those in need
- Treating others as one would like to be treated
- Continually learning and growing both spiritually and intellectually
- Being modest in your relations with others
- Being respectful and nonviolent when interacting with others
Work Values
Your work values are the things you believe in when it comes to your job, your finances, and how you spend your money. Examples of work values include:
- Always doing your best work
- Working in a team
- Saving a portion of your salary/allowance
- Finding opportunities to express your ideas and creativity
- Being proud of your achievements
- Making education a priority
- Keeping in mind the part that your job plays in society
- Treating co-workers, fellow students, customers, and authority figures the way that you want to be treated
Moral Values
Your moral values are your personal beliefs about right and wrong. These values guide the choices you make in life and help you determine what you consider to be good or bad. Examples of moral values include:
- Being honest and trustworthy
- Being courageous
- Never giving up
- Adding value to the world
- Being patient
- Taking personal responsibility
Recreational Values
This includes sports, entertainment, and other forms of relaxation. Recreational values are anything that involve fun and play, such as sports, entertainment, and other forms of relaxation. Examples of recreational values include:
- Providing unstructured play time
- Having family game nights
- Allowing and encouraging each family member to pursue interests
- Taking vacations together
- Spending time together outside playing
Tips for Making Your Family’s List
If sitting down as a family to come up with a list of values feels daunting, don’t worry– there’s no one right way to do it. Call a family meeting and get input from every family member. It may take a few meeting sessions to get all the thoughts out, but it’ll be worth it in the end. The following tips should help you develop a list that you and your kids can stand by:
Think about creating a phrase that represents your main family value, such as peacefully resolving conflict, being kind and faithful, or working hard.
What is important to your family? What are the strengths of your family? How would you describe your family?
Make a list of everything that comes to mind and you can go back later to narrow it down. The first session is for brainstorming.
Let everyone think about it for a while before coming back together to make a list.
Ten ideas is a manageable amount to aim for without being overwhelming.
Post your values list somewhere visible so you see it every day.
Refer to the list of family values when things happen, in order to use it as a teaching opportunity.
This list may change as your family does.
Sample Family Values List
Although every family’s list of values will be different, the following is an example of a family values list:
- Think of the consequences before you act
- Follow the guidelines of religion
- Discuss right and wrong when modern values clash with traditional values
- Spend time together as a family, but also pursue individual interests
- Live these values, don’t just talk about them
- Treat others (both inside and outside of the family) with compassion and respect
- Put your best effort toward every task
- Always continue to learn
- Learn from failures
- Celebrate successes
- Use the money to do, rather than to buy
- Treat pets as family
- Remember to not always act on feelings
- Show love every day
- Sever relationships with disrespectful people
- Treat others’ possessions with care and respect
- Listen since all opinions are important
- Always strive to maintain the safety
- Be honest
Your List Should Reflect Your Family
The values that are important to your family should be reflected in your family’s list. If spirituality is important to your family, then your list should be more spiritual. If your family enjoys having fun, then your list should reflect that. If your family enjoys doing things together, then that should be a part of your list. Anything that is important for the health and well-being of your family should be included in your family’s value list.
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