Family values involve all of the ideas of how you want to live your family life, and they are often passed down from previous generations. They can help define behaviour in various situations, help youth make good choices, and solidify the bond that your family has. If your family doesn’t already have these values in place, know that it is never too late to make a list.

Types of Values

Although every family’s list of values will be different, there are different categories of values that tend to be similar

Social Values 

Photo by Dawn

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, there are certain political valuesthat remain constant across political parties. American values often include:

  • Exceptionalism – that America is a land of limitless opportunities and, as such, has a duty to 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

Religious values center around the expectations that people have about themselves and others based on the beliefs of their faith. Although each faith has its beliefs, there are common values that many faiths tend to share. 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

Work values include such things as your philosophies about your job, your finances, and how you spend your money. For children, these values include how they approach school and their education. 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

Moral values are your individual values about what you think is right and wrong. Moral values provide the foundation from which you make decisions. Morals are learned from your parents and your experiences. Examples of moral values include:

  • Being honest and trustworthy
  • Being courageous
  • Never giving up
  • Adding value to the world
  • Being patient
  • Taking personal responsibility

    Photo by Adam Sherez

Recreational Values

Recreational values refer to anything that involves fun and play. Recreation is important in the family because it fosters closeness in the family, opportunities for learning, creating memories, improving social skills, and developing empathy. 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.

Source: Family.LoveToKnow

More from Family