Raising kids in a world that doesn't share our values | DadHQ

Raising kids in a world that doesn't share our values

20h ago1 min read

How do you balance protecting your kids from the world while also not making them judgmental or weird? My wife and I are trying to raise them with strong Christian values but they're going to grow up in a very different culture than what we believe. We don't want them to be isolated but we also don't want them compromising on the important stuff. Really trying to figure out how to give them tools to think for themselves while also anchoring them in faith. Tips appreciated.

6 comments92 views

Comments(6)

GGarrett M.New Dadjust now

The judgmental thing is real. My daughter started being weird about kids whose families did things differently and we had to pump the brakes on that hard. It's a balance between having convictions and not being the kind of person nobody wants to hang out with.

AAlex R.New Dadjust now

This is tough because you want to protect them but also prepare them for the real world. I try to let my kids ask questions about everything and then we talk through it together instead of just saying no to things.

RRyan M.New Dad20h ago

We let our kids see that the world is different from us but we don't make it seem scary. More like here's what we believe and why, but other people believe different things and that's okay. They're old enough now to figure out their own stuff.

VVincentNew Dad2h ago

The weird thing is kids are way more resilient than we think. Raising them with strong values doesn't make them weird - it usually makes them more thoughtful about their choices than their peers.

DDavid R.Regular29m ago

This is something we think about a lot. We try to teach our kids to be kind to everyone while also being clear about what we believe. Family bike rides are our time to just talk through stuff naturally, no big lectures. Kids ask questions and we answer honestly without making it weird.

LLucas M.Regularjust now

We talk a lot about the difference between having different beliefs and being unkind to people with different beliefs. That's the balance I try to strike. My kids know why we believe what we do, but they also know everyone deserves respect.