February is Black History Month and we are reminded of the important teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An article on FamilyEducation caught my attention regarding excellent values to teach our maturing children. The article has great examples and quotes by Dr. King. Here is a summary:
8 MLK Jr. Values to Instill in Your Kids:
Equality – Martin Luther King, Jr. pursued equal rights for all people regardless of race or skin color. The “golden rule” is a good example: treat others how you want to be treated – with respect, kindness, and fairness.
Faith – Believe in yourself and your goals and dreams.
Nonviolence – Solve conflicts peacefully; express feelings with words, not physical actions.
Education – Work hard and do your best in school. Encourage reading and help kids find subjects that spark interest and passion.
Love – Think of others, respect other’s opinions, and find the good in people.
Dr. King quoted:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Leadership – Encourage participation and leadership in the classroom, and with sports activities. Teach kids to be confident, embrace teamwork, and help others be successful.
Selflessness – Demonstrate the importance of helping others. Volunteer and invite others to join you in the cause – it’s more fun with friends working together.
Hope – Teach kids to accept disappointment – while challenges may slow you down, you won’t have a chance to reach your goal if you give up. Give examples of others (in history, or friends and relatives) that endured through hard times.
It’s not that I learned anything new necessarily; it was just a good reminder of my responsibility to raise my children to be confident and enlightened members of society.