Right From Wrong: Instilling A Sense Of Integrity In Your Child

by Michael Riera, Joseph Di Prisco

Never preachy and always practical, Right from Wrongis an important and inspiring book about raising children with a conscience. Educators Michael Riera and Joseph Di Prisco focus on integrity rather than morality in their provocative and persuasive thesis: "The most direct way for children to take lessons of integrity to heart is by being out of integrity," they explain.

Targeted for preschoolers through preteens, each chapter is organized around evocative vignettes about finding integrity. Among them: a kindergartner stealing a candy bar, the death of a family pet, a dustup on the soccer field, an 11-year-old who gives her phone number to a teenage boy at the movies. The authors imaginatively explore how parents can leverage kids' everyday experiences--homework, competition, tattling, awakening sexuality, or surfing the Internet--into teachable moments of integrity.

Overall, don't take your child's behavior personally, the book cautions. Avoid the trap of being so disappointed or panicked by children's behavior that you lose an opportunity for them to unpack conflicting emotions and learn to value integrity. Sound advice is underlined with sample parent-child dialogues, asking, for example, "What stopped you from listening to the part of you that knew the right thing to do?" This book is simply a gem--and a must-read for parents and teachers of young children alike. --Barbara Mackoff

Genres: Nonfiction

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our faculty summer reading book, written by the new Head of School. I really enjoyed it, and think it is one of the more important parenting books that I have read. It is most valuable for its conversation starters. It gives great advice on discussing tough topics and situations with your kids. It covers kids ages 5-12 and the moral dilemmas they will probably face at sometime in their lives.

[Yayu]

want to read it