Family Values Equality and Social Justice-Asset 27

Family Values Equality and Social Justice

Parents that demonstrate and value equality and social justice in their day-to-day lives are providing another valuable developmental asset for their children. As children from such families grow and mature they find ways to make their community a better place for everyone through understanding and living these values.

In order for parents to successfully provide for this asset it is important they take it upon themselves to understand basic human rights. One source of this information is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (www.hrusa.org). Some example of these rights are the right to equality; freedom from discrimination; the right to life, liberty and personal security; freedom from interference with privacy, family, home and correspondence; freedom of religion and belief; freedom of opinion and information; the right to participate in government and free elections; and the right to education.

Given a basic knowledge of human rights, the best and most effective way to teach these values is through embodying and modeling them in your own interactions with people in your community. Let your words and actions show you care about equality and social justice. Another way this asset can be established is by treating your children as well as other children equally. There is often a tendency to gush over happy, cute and familiar children while acting more reserved around fussy, different or more ordinary looking children. It is important to be friendly and to treat all children the same. It is also important to treat children with respect. Ask for their opinions. Listen to their ideas. Respect and acknowledge their suggestions and respond to them when appropriate.

A great way to teach equality and social justice to children is by looking at photographs of children from different countries or different areas of the United States. While doing so you can ask questions like, “What’s different about where this child lives and where we live?” or “What’s do these children have in common with us?” Discuss how people live together in these different places; whether there is poverty or a class system there; does the other culture value youth, equality or justice; and what they think is good or bad about the perceived values there.

Some other interesting ways to explore and teach equality and justice is to talk about these topics directly. Discuss who the child thinks is treated more fairly, men or women; boys or girls; wealthy people or poor people; heavy people or thin people? Share your thoughts and opinions about these issues. Also, use news reports involving these types of issues. Read the article to your child and ask what they think about this issues and how they would suggest resolving it. Write a letter to the editor together.

Parents, you can also instill these types of values by creating opportunities to address solutions to issues of inequality in your community. For instance, if hunger is an issue, you can propose, like one family did for their daughter’s birthday party and with their daughter’s agreement, that instead of bringing gifts guests were asked to bring canned goods that would be donated to the local food bank. This was a hit!

As usual, these ideas are meant to stimulate some thought in the direction of investing in a valuable asset for you child’s life. If you would like more suggestions, please contact me.