The first question to ask is “what is a value?”  Then we can answer why some of these values are foundational.  

A value is something of significance or merit and can be exchanged for something else of worth.  It is useful and important.  

In essence, a value has importance and is worth something.  Being foundational means that it is basic and a building block for other things to be built on top.  Foundational values are basic building blocks of values that we need to instill into the lives of our children while we demonstrate how they should operate.  

Other values can later be added onto them once the basic ones are understood.  We need to understand these for ourselves and then pass them on to the next generations.  What are some of these foundational values?  

They include essential character traits and life skills.  

What is a character trait?  

They are characteristics that show the qualities that are important in people’s lives.  They define people and are things that others know are part of that person’s life. 

 Being a person of character is a personal decision and a consistent pattern of good behavior.  Character defines who you are, how you need to respond to situations in your life and explains why you do the things you do.  

I have identified hundreds of character traits, but some are more essential than others.  The ones I consider most essential include being thankful, responsible, respectful and truthful.

What are life skills?  

A life still is a practice or aptitude that helps a person function well in adult life.  

Once they are learned as a child or adult, as long as they are practiced, they can be utilized throughout their lives.  They are enhancements to everything else specific you do.  Life skills are necessary components for success as an adult.  

A person may be able to function without some of these, but these are really needed for a well-rounded, well-prepared adulthood.  

I have identified 50 of them but I am sure there are many more.  They are not trade or professional specific but are generally needed by all of us.  The ones I consider most essential include adapting to change, goal setting, time management and problem solving.

We bond character traits and life skills together by showing our children how to put them into practice.  

We do this by being the example in their lives.  

Children are imitators of adults.  

They watch what we watch, do what we do, and say what we say.  We need to be the example of good character and life skills in order to be a more positive influence in their lives.  Then we are better able to pass these foundational values on to the generations to follow.