This week, we’re focusing on something foundational to every child’s development: family values. The values you establish as a family don’t just guide day-to-day decisions—they play a critical role in helping your child build their identity and understand who they are in the world.

In today’s fast-moving world, where kids are exposed to endless ideas and influences, having strong family values helps anchor them. These values act as a compass, helping your child develop a clear sense of self and a set of principles they can stand by as they grow.

Today, we’re diving into why setting family values is so important, and how you can start the conversation to help your child build a strong identity rooted in your family’s core beliefs.

Why Setting Family Values Matters

Helps Children Understand What’s Important 

When kids are clear about what their family values, they begin to understand what’s truly important. These values guide how they treat others, how they approach challenges, and how they see themselves. Whether it’s kindness, integrity, hard work, or creativity, the values you prioritize help your child shape their worldview.

Provides a Sense of Belonging 

Family values create a sense of unity and belonging. When your child knows the values your family stands for, they feel connected to something bigger than themselves. This sense of belonging is critical for building confidence and self-worth, especially during those difficult moments when peer pressure or societal influences come into play.

Guides Decision-Making 

As kids grow, they’re faced with countless decisions, both big and small. Family values help them make those decisions with a clear sense of what’s right and wrong. When your child knows the core principles that matter to your family, they can use those as a guide to navigate tricky situations.

How to Establish Family Values

Here are a few steps you can take to start setting family values that resonate with your child and help them begin building their identity:

Have a Family Conversation

Sit down as a family and talk about what’s important to you. Ask each family member to share values they think are meaningful. It could be things like honesty, kindness, respect, or hard work.

How to guide the conversation:

• Start by sharing what values you hold most dear and why.

• Ask your child, “What do you think is important for our family to focus on?”

• Write down the values that resonate with everyone.

Define What Each Value Means

It’s important to define what your family’s values mean in action. For example, if your family values respect, talk about what respect looks like in daily life—how you treat others, how you talk to each other, and how you handle disagreements.

Example:

• Respect: We listen to each other without interrupting, even when we don’t agree.

• Kindness: We show kindness by helping others when they need it and being supportive of each other.

Create a Visual Reminder

Once you’ve decided on your core values, create a visual reminder. It could be a list of values on the fridge, a family poster, or even a digital reminder on a shared calendar. This keeps the values top of mind and helps reinforce them in everyday life.

Bonus Tip: Get your child involved in creating the visual reminder. Whether they draw, paint, or type it out, having them help make the values list gives them a sense of ownership.

Why This Builds Identity

When children understand and live by their family’s values, they start to form a strong sense of identity. They begin to see themselves as people who stand for something—whether it’s honesty, hard work, or empathy. This clarity helps them build self-confidence and gives them the tools to stand firm when faced with difficult choices or outside pressure.

Consistency Is Key:

By consistently reinforcing family values, your child will begin to internalize them as part of their own identity. Over time, they’ll start making decisions that align with those values without needing reminders. It becomes part of who they are.

Action Step for Parents

This week, sit down with your family and start the conversation about your core values. Write down the top 3-5 values that everyone agrees on and talk about what each one means in practice. Then, create a visual reminder to keep those values alive in your home.

Bonus Tip: Make this a regular conversation. Revisit your family values every few months to see if they still resonate or if new values emerge as your child grows.

How Family Values Support a Growth Mindset

Values like perseverance, curiosity, and kindness don’t just build a child’s identity—they help foster a growth mindset. When children learn that their family values include effort, resilience, and trying new things, they’re more likely to embrace challenges and see failures as opportunities for growth.

Thanks for being part of the Future Way Maker community. Together, let’s raise children who know who they are and what they stand for!

Stay amazing,

The Future Way Maker Team

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Have you started setting family values with your child? Reply to this email or tag us on social media to share your experience and how it’s impacted your family.