5 Things I’m Determined to Teach my Kids

I am not a perfect parent, but there are a few things I am determined to teach my kids. These may seem like simple things, but they are things I don’t see as many kids learning these days.

I’m Determined to Teach my Kids:

1. Manners
I want my kids to learn their manners. To say, “Please” and “Thank you” and to be truly thankful for what they have been given. My son who has autism was not able to talk until age three, but even then he learned to sign “Please” and “Thank you” and he even did it on his own at times without me prompting.

Now that he is talking a little better, he says, “Please” and “Thank you” with only a little prompting. Just yesterday, a friend brought over an Easter basket with some goodies for him, and while we were talking he kept coming over to her and thinking her for each piece of chalk and each toy. It made my heart glad to see such thankfulness, and to see how he remembered his manners. I hope to teach my daughter the same thing.

2. To Say, “I’m Sorry” and “I Forgive You”
When my son does something he shouldn’t, I make him say, “Sorry.” I don’t think that at the age of three he really understands what that means, but I hope that in time he will, and by then he will already be in the habit of learning to say it when he is in the wrong.

“I forgive you” is one of those things we are still working on. In fact, it’s one of those things I am working on personally as well. I tend to say, “It’s okay.” in response to when someone has wronged me, when the correct response should be: “I forgive you.” My hope is to teach my children that correct response and that they learn true forgiveness from their Saviour.

3. Responsibility
I think all children should learn responsibility. I am determined to teach my kids responsibility for their things and especially responsibility for their actions. I think this area will be something we always will be working on until my kids are out of the house.

4. To Clean Up After Themselves
This may seem so simple, but I have been shocked at how many times people tell me they can’t believe how well my son picks up his toys or helps clean up. Now, this is still a work in progress. There are plenty of times he does not want to pick up after himself, but I still teach him that he needs to do it at home and at other places too. I also teach him to throw away his trash. He tries to hand it to me, but I am now telling him to “go throw it away” which he loves to do.

5. To Be Kind
Again, this sounds so simple, but I am determined that it be more than that. I want my kids to treat each other with kindness. I know they may not always get along, but my hope is that kindness always win out. I also want them to learn to treat others with kindness. For them to show others kindness even if someone does not treat them kindly back.

What are your thoughts on this? What are some things YOU are determined to teach your kids?