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How can you talk with your child about values like the SPARK 5?
Why These Conversations Matter
As parents, guardians, and caregivers, the values we reinforce at home shape how our children navigate friendships, conflicts, and challenges. The SPARK 5—Safety, Passion, Accountability, Respect, and Kindness—are key to creating a strong, supportive community. Having open, ongoing conversations about these values helps kids develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and integrity.
This guide provides simple ways to talk about these values with your child, including clear definitions and conversation starters.
Defining the SPARK 5 in Kid-Friendly TermsSafety"Everyone deserves to feel safe—not just physically, but also emotionally. Safety means making sure our words and actions don’t hurt others and speaking up when we see someone being treated unfairly."
💬 Ask your child: "What makes you feel safe at school or SPARK? How can we help others feel safe too?"
Passion"Passion is about discovering what excites and motivates us. It’s trying new things, showing enthusiasm, and supporting others as they find what they love."
💬 Ask your child: "What’s something that makes you feel excited to learn or do? How can we encourage each other’s passions?"
Accountability"Being accountable means taking responsibility for our actions. It’s owning up when we make mistakes, following through on commitments, and working to make things right."
💬 Ask your child: "Can you think of a time when you took responsibility for something? How did it feel?"
Respect"Respect means treating others, places, and things with care. It’s about listening, using kind words, and understanding that different people have different perspectives."
💬 Ask your child: "What does respect look like at school or with friends? What’s a small way we can show more respect every day?"
Kindness"Kindness is choosing to be good to people, even when we don’t have to be. It’s about lifting others up with our words and actions and avoiding cruelty."
💬 Ask your child: "What’s one small act of kindness we could do for someone today?"
How to Start These Conversations
1️⃣ Use Real-Life MomentsEveryday situations offer natural opportunities to discuss values. When your child shares a story about their day, ask:
3️⃣ Make It a Two-Way ConversationRather than lecturing, ask open-ended questions and listen to their perspectives. Even if they say something surprising or troubling, avoid immediate judgment—use it as a chance to explore their thinking and guide them toward positive choices.
4️⃣ Praise Effort, Not Just OutcomesWhen your child shows kindness, accountability, or respect, acknowledge it!
Final ThoughtTeaching kids values like the SPARK 5 isn’t about one big talk—it’s about small, ongoing conversations that build understanding over time. By modeling these values and creating space for reflection, we empower young people to grow into thoughtful, responsible, and compassionate members of their communities.
As parents, guardians, and caregivers, the values we reinforce at home shape how our children navigate friendships, conflicts, and challenges. The SPARK 5—Safety, Passion, Accountability, Respect, and Kindness—are key to creating a strong, supportive community. Having open, ongoing conversations about these values helps kids develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and integrity.
This guide provides simple ways to talk about these values with your child, including clear definitions and conversation starters.
Defining the SPARK 5 in Kid-Friendly TermsSafety"Everyone deserves to feel safe—not just physically, but also emotionally. Safety means making sure our words and actions don’t hurt others and speaking up when we see someone being treated unfairly."
💬 Ask your child: "What makes you feel safe at school or SPARK? How can we help others feel safe too?"
Passion"Passion is about discovering what excites and motivates us. It’s trying new things, showing enthusiasm, and supporting others as they find what they love."
💬 Ask your child: "What’s something that makes you feel excited to learn or do? How can we encourage each other’s passions?"
Accountability"Being accountable means taking responsibility for our actions. It’s owning up when we make mistakes, following through on commitments, and working to make things right."
💬 Ask your child: "Can you think of a time when you took responsibility for something? How did it feel?"
Respect"Respect means treating others, places, and things with care. It’s about listening, using kind words, and understanding that different people have different perspectives."
💬 Ask your child: "What does respect look like at school or with friends? What’s a small way we can show more respect every day?"
Kindness"Kindness is choosing to be good to people, even when we don’t have to be. It’s about lifting others up with our words and actions and avoiding cruelty."
💬 Ask your child: "What’s one small act of kindness we could do for someone today?"
How to Start These Conversations
1️⃣ Use Real-Life MomentsEveryday situations offer natural opportunities to discuss values. When your child shares a story about their day, ask:
- “How did that make you feel?”
- “What do you think was the kind or respectful thing to do in that situation?”
- “How do you think the other person felt?”
3️⃣ Make It a Two-Way ConversationRather than lecturing, ask open-ended questions and listen to their perspectives. Even if they say something surprising or troubling, avoid immediate judgment—use it as a chance to explore their thinking and guide them toward positive choices.
4️⃣ Praise Effort, Not Just OutcomesWhen your child shows kindness, accountability, or respect, acknowledge it!
- Instead of: “Good job!”
- Try: “I really liked how you helped your friend when they were struggling. That was really kind.”
- “What could you do differently next time?”
- “How could you show kindness/respect even if you’re frustrated?”
- “If you were in their shoes, how would you want to be treated?”
Final ThoughtTeaching kids values like the SPARK 5 isn’t about one big talk—it’s about small, ongoing conversations that build understanding over time. By modeling these values and creating space for reflection, we empower young people to grow into thoughtful, responsible, and compassionate members of their communities.
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