VALUES FORMATION FOR CHILDREN

JENNIFER B. PATIAG

Values have a major influence on a person’s attitude and behavior, and serve as guidelines for making decisions in various situations. They are important beliefs or ideals that a person or group has on what is good or bad, desirable or undesirable.

Common values are usually shared by members of a family, an organization, or a culture, about what is good or bad and about what is desirable or undesirable.

Values formation is in fact, an essential and indispensable part of education and the learning process that helps mold the character of children, starting at their young age, since it will shape their future as good citizens immersed in mainstream society.

Three major factors— upbringing, people and the environment— form a person’s values.

School, a good working environment for values formation, is the second most important venue, next to home and family, for values formation.

In school, core values that children should learn are excellence, vibrancy, equity, responsiveness, leadership, accountability, service, teamwork, ingenuity, nobility and greatness.

Formation always emphasizes that values guide thoughts and that thoughts affect feelings which in turn affect actions. Repeated behavior become habits that reflect a child’s character rooted in good values formation.

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The author is Master I at Fausto Gonzales Sioco Memorial School, Colgante, Apalit, Pampanga