Respect, kindness, honesty, courage, perseverance, self-discipline, compassion, generosity, dependability. Most parents want to instill these kinds of values in their children. Doing so will protect them from potentially negative societal influences and lay the foundation for them to become good citizens. We're not fulfilling our responsibilities as parents if we don't try to instill solid morals in our children.

What's a parent to do? 

"You need to make time to be with your kids and make the time you have with them really count,"

Have these kinds of conversations with your kids on a regular basis so that the topic of values becomes a completely "normal" one in your household. That way, in the future, if your children do face moral conundrums, they're going to be more comfortable broaching the subject with you than with their peers. If you don't address these issues with your kids, society will fill in the void.

One of the most important things you can do is set a good example for your children. They learn from seeing how you treat them, overhearing your interactions with others, and observing what you do in different situations throughout the day.

If you want your children to exhibit values like honesty, self-respect, and compassion, then you need to show these qualities yourself. All the teaching in the world can be undone if your children watch you behave in ways that contradict what you've said.

Your kids won't think it's important to persevere if you're routinely giving up on diets or exercise programs, 

When you fall short with your children, not only do you need to acknowledge your mistake, you also need to tell them you're sorry. This shows them that you value and respect their thoughts, perspectives, and feelings. You're also modeling an important way to show respect to others, and how to accept responsibility for your mistakes.

When you apologize to your children, you instill a desire in them to do the same when they make mistakes.