It is often said that home is the first school and parents are the first teachers. Explain the role of family in inculcating moral values. Analyze how the changing nature of family has affected this role in the context of India. (150 words)

Mentors Comment:

Begin by briefly explaining what moral values are.
Then illustrate how the family influences development of values in children with more emphasis on the role of parents. Further, the development of narrow/bad values may also be included in the answer to bring a contrast.
Then briefly explain the changing nature of family in the present context and analyse its impact on the role of development of moral values using suitable examples.
Conclude with your viewpoint on what we can expect in coming times regarding moral values and family.

Answer:

Moral values are the intrinsic beliefs developed from the value systems of how we should behave in any given situation. They are the standards of good and evil, which govern an individual’s behaviour and choices. It is often said that home is the first school and parents are the first teachers. Home is the setting for an individual’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth. The family, particularly parents, play an important role in the development of moral values in children.

 There is a close contact between the parents and children. Parents are more accessible to the child than other members of the family. The parents teach the children behavior, dress codes, customs, aspirations and so on. The minds of children develop in the major way through the process of non-formal education at home.
 Children always observe and follow the behaviour of parents, both inside and outside the home. Therefore, the young family members inculcate the value system practiced in the family.
 The family shapes the attitude of a child towards society and other people. It also helps in the psychological growth of the child and influences his ambitions and values. Blissful and cheerful atmosphere in the family will develop love, tolerance and generosity.
 Joint family system and the presence of elders in the family plays an effective role in social and moral development of the children. It helps in eradicating negative mental tendencies.
 Customs and traditions taught by the family helps the children to be disciplined and organised.
 If there is an environment of unhappiness at home, if the parents are worried, helpless, discontented or distressed, the children will also develop a mind­set of dissatisfaction and intolerance.
 If the female members of the family do not have freedom or if they are not allowed to work outside, the children would develop same patriarchal mind­set.

Urbanization, globalization and modernization have resulted in changing the nature of family and consequently the role of family in inculcating moral values.

 Increasing urbanisation and emergence of small families have reduced the role of elders in the family. The children are missing their guidance and experience.
 If both the parents are working, usually they get less time to spend with the children. This reduces the influence of parents on the behavior of children and increases the influence of friends, peers and others.
 Lack of mutual concern between parents at home, disaffection and lack of securities in families results in erosion of values inside the family.
 The increasing role of money in the urban areas, the materialistic lifestyle results in imbibing narrow values in children. They would give importance to materialistic things rather than human relations and values.
 In some cases, the changing nature of family helps positively as well. For example, when female members work outside and involve in taking family decisions, the children would also inculcate the values of gender equality.