How can literary texts about family shape children’s value system?

Abstract

Family means not only individuals but first and foremost relationships, which have been developing between parents and children for years. Father and mother are the first people from whom children learn how to behave in different situations, how to express their thoughts and feelings, what should be valued, what kind of people they are worth being, what is wrong, what love is. Children adopt their parents’ views and value system. The purpose of the article is to make an attempt to show how, by interpreting literary texts about family, the value system can be shaped and the value of family be presented. The authors of the selected texts constructed their content in such a way so that a child could relate the content to their own personal experiences. Moreover, children have an opportunity to find out what love is. They can realise that love is not only words but also mutual concern, readiness to help, support and the displays of affection at any time and any day. By analyzing the texts we can show values such as confidence, sincerity, the feeling of security, care, help, spending time together as well as love. By referring to varied content one can not only encourage children to display similar forms of behaviour, explain, teach the right patterns of life, prevent wrong behaviour but also show the meaning of values. The selection of suitable literature is an invaluable help in educational work, because it provides children with knowledge in every field and it shapes attitudes. The more frequently children have to do with different stories in which values are presented, the more they understand and will imitate those behaviours. One should not give in to time pressure, on the contrary, it is advisable to take care of children’s well-being and encourage them to think as well as show them different problems and engage them in discussions so that children could start appreciating values on their own.