**Teaching Our Children to Be Good Humans: A Parent’s Guide**
Teaching our children to be loving, respectful, and generous is more crucial than ever in a conflicted and cruel world. We, the parents, can influence their values and habits. These are 10 things we can teach our children that will turn them into good people and change the world for the better.
1. **Always Be Kind**
Make your children practice being nice every day. Keep reminding them that no one is immune to hardship and that even a simple act of kindness can make someone’s day. Whether that’s leaving the door open for someone or complimenting someone, these little things bring a wave of light.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
2. **Be a Friend**
Do not force them to be friends. Encourage them to connect with lonely classmates or neighbors. A good friend is someone who shares and encourages other people to help us form stronger communities.
“Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.” Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter.
3. **Show Respect**
Respect is a cornerstone of good conduct. Respect your children by teaching them how to treat them with respect. Be respectful in every moment, whether it’s hearing them out, appreciating authority, or respecting service workers.
"Respect: Insist upon it from everybody." - Maya Angelou.
4. **Treat People The Way You’d Like to Be Treated**
Teach your children the golden rule: treat others the way they would want to be treated. This ethos promotes compassion and understanding. In reality, this means supporting others and being inclusive, especially if you notice that someone is excluded or bullied.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". Maya Angelou.
5. **Never Pre-judge**
Teaching your children to look past appearances and first impressions. Talking about differences in race, religion, and belief can set a more inclusive tone. Encourage them to accept people the way they are, not because of how they look or fit into stereotypes.
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” Maya Angelou.
6. **Remember Our Common Humanity**
Teach your children to appreciate that, underneath, we’re all the same. Remember that emotions such as sadness, joy, and fear aren’t limited by race, religion, or class. That knowledge creates empathy and care for the lives of others. Everyone has bad days. You never know if another is suffering.
“I am a human being. Nothing human can be alien to me.” Maya Angelou.
7. **Be Genuine and Real**
Tell your children to be authentic. Genuineness will allow your children to have deeper, longer-lasting relationships with others.
"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded". Maya Angelou.
8. **Be Kind and Smile**
A smile will change the mood of any room. Instruct your children that kindness comes in small acts, from simply smiling at someone to sharing a kind word. Ask them to set a daily goal to make someone else’s day (no matter how insignificant it might be). Have you made someone smile yet today? Well, go do it!
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see" — Mark Twain.
9. **Pay It Forward**
Share and give kindness; you may be in their shoes one day and hope someone helps you. Encourage gratitude and give-and-take without expectations of immediate payback. Do it with your heart. You will find joy in the action of "Paying it Forward." Whether it is by serving a neighbor or donating your time, tell your kids to try to give back to the community. So many ways to do it! Recognize even the smallest accomplishments; gratitude is in your attitude.
"We are here because somebody loved us. We are here becomes somebody sacrificed for us. We are here because somebody paid for us. Pay it forward".Maya Angelou.
10. **Send Thank You Notes**
Good manners are not just about being polite but about showing respect for others. Remind your children to say thank you in written or verbal forms. (We still send thank you cards) By acknowledging others’ contributions, we can foster courtesy and generosity. (or after receiving a gift)
“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” — Norman Vincent Peale.
Maya Angelou is my favorite poet. Her writing is profound and genuinely authentic! One of my all-time favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou. She was a source of wisdom throughout her amazing life and career. (I have this quote framed and in my living room.)
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou
Fostering these lessons into everyday life will encourages our children to develop empathy, respect, and love for others. As children, their eyes are wide open, so remember our body language and tone may speak louder than our words. Together, we can mold the next generation of human beings who can make the world a better place.
To read more life quotes from Maya Angelou, click the link below!
