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​​​​A values-based parenting approach means you look for opportunities to teach and reinforce values that are important to you and your family.

​​​​​​​Read through the suggestions below and what each of them means to your family, then, as a family, choose those that best fit your situation. Once you've selected the ones your family considers most important, click "Build Agreement" to see your customized agreement, which you can print ​and ​have everyone sign. When you're done, put the agreement on the fridge or message board so everyone ​knows the values to live by every day.

​We suggest you try to limit your agreement to five main values.

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This important character trait implies a refusal to lie, steal or deceive in any way. For example, if a clerk gives you too much change and you let him/her know rather than keeping it, you’re modeling honesty.

Compassion literally means feeling the suffering of others. It is sympathetic ability to understand the misfortune of others.

More than just not lying, being trustworthy means that others can count on you when they need you the most.

This important trait is the ability to sacrifice your pleasure for the benefit of others. It is an ability to recognize when kindness is needed most.

More than just politeness, courtesy means putting the needs of others before your own. When Mom or Dad serves the children at dinner before themselves, that’s courtesy.

This is an innate ability to treat others without favoritism or discrimination and to recognize when this isn’t happening. Beyond that, a fair person goes out of his/her way to correct a situation in which someone is being treated unfairly.

This trait is pretty simple, as its name says it all. It’s the capability of respecting yourself as you would another person. This means taking care of your body by eating right, exercising and avoiding harmful substances, and taking care of your mind through constant education.

This is the ability to control your feelings and overcome your weaknesses. Essentially, it is the ability to resist temptation. That second bowl of ice cream may look tantalizingly delicious, but deep down you know it isn’t good for you. Saying no to seconds is self-discipline.

Resilience is a tough value to teach. It’s difficult because it means overcoming pain, both physical and mental, in order to move on with your life. So, whether getting over the breakup of a relationship or a less-than-perfect score on a test, resilience means getting back up, dusting yourself off and giving life another try.

Build Agreement