Here’s the question we asked UFI readers:
“Recognizing that all are important, what trait or quality do you think is the most important to teach children?”
Here’s how readers responded:
0 Percent Determination
36 Percent Responsibility
11 Percent Self-confidence/Self-Worth
32 Percent Gratitude
21 Percent Self-Control
This was a tough one! You can see that there was not an overwhelming winner with the results for “responsibility” and “gratitude” being very close. Our readers don’t seem to follow the mantra of the secular world which seems to state that the most important thing you can teach children is to be self-confident.
Our staff at UFI had a long conversation about this question and couldn’t decide between responsibility and gratitude. Can you be responsible and still be ungrateful? If you are truly grateful, is it possible to not feel responsible to all around you? All of the qualities mentioned are important ones and hopefully this gave you an opportunity to examine your own values and parenting focus.