A characteristic of a strong family is the sharing of positive, healthy values. One way to foster values is to create family traditions and celebrate milestones, including baptisms and graduations. These events develop a sense of oneness in families. They are also an outward sign of the things a family believes in, such as spirituality and education.

Fostering values in your family can be done in any number of ways. Here are a few ideas to help your family become more caring and sharing:

• Encourage participation as a family in volunteering or community service. This will help children develop a sense of moral obligation to the world around them.
  
  
• Set an example of respect and kindness at home. If you treat your children with consideration, the odds are good that they will treat others the same way. When your children learn to be charitable at home, it is more likely they will be charitable in other places.

  For some parents, however, it's just the opposite. Their children are helpers to everyone but their own parents. If you notice this in your children, try to encourage acts of charity in your home with a pass-it-on box. The pass-it-on box creates a place for your family members to ask for help from others. During or after dinner, pass the box around the table and have your children share their needs or describe someone's act of kindness (Mom teaching the ABCs or Maria helping Dad pull weeds).

• Share emotional times. As both happy and sad events happen in your lives, be
  open to your children's feelings, even if they do not match your own. Sometimes,
  children do not know how to verbalize what they are feeling, so it is important to talk about your own feelings. When you take time to express your feelings, you help them identify their own.
  
  
• Show respect for your children's teachers and others in authority. Teaching is a difficult job under the best of circumstances. If a teacher calls to report on your child's behavior, take the report seriously. If your child has engaged in inappropriate behavior, discipline the child. Let your child know that your expectations for his or her behavior in school are the same as the teacher's. If you disagree with a teacher, discuss your concerns in private, never in front of your child.
  
  
• Help your children learn how to get along with others, follow instructions and accept criticism. Here is a sample skill-builder your child can use to practice accepting criticism:
  Look at the person to show you are paying attention.
  Say "Okay" in a pleasant voice to show that you understand.
  Don't argue - stay calm, and try to learn from the criticism. If you disagree, wait until later to discuss the matter.
  
  
• Let your children know that you are in charge and have positive expectations for their behavior. When you place limits on your children, you are reducing the odds of long-term problems.

When it comes to establishing values, beliefs and morals in your children, the most powerful tool you have is yourself.