Family Values Conversation Starters

When it comes to establishing core values as a family, one of the common challenges is turning values into tools that actually transform behaviors. The good news is one of the easiest solutions to this challenge simply is by having regular family conversations on your core family values.

Regular reflection and evaluation will keep actions tied to family values at the forefront of your family’s minds. Your family values should set clear standards and provide joy and energy for how your family lives. (If you’re looking for more guided help on identifying your family’s values, start with our Family Legacy Study where you’ll walk through that process to your own values and vision statements as a family.)

Let’s dive in on how to make your family values applicable with these guided family questions to ask.

Family Values Questions to Ask

With these three categories, you can find questions to ask your family around values. These serve as prompts so keep asking follow-up questions as you get conversations going.

Evaluating Values Family Questions

• Where has it been difficult to practice our values recently? Are there any areas you see where we aren’t always being consistent or prioritizing other things?
• What habits or traditions do we have as a family that line up with our values?
• If someone watched our family for a day, what value do you think they would notice the most? Is there anything we need to do more/less of?
• How do our core values as a family make us unique? What behaviors or choices do they impact regularly?

Identifying Values Family Questions

• What is an example of how you had to make a choice to practice one of our family values this month?
• What is an example from a video, TV show, or movie you’ve seen that illustrates one of our family’s values?
• How are you working on practicing these values in how you interact with your friends/coworkers/neighbors?
• What is a way we should try using our values to make a difference for _____ (community, friend, church, school, etc.)?

Reflecting on Values Family Questions

• If you had to teach someone else what our family values are, how would you describe them?
• What is one value you hope to carry over into your own family one day? Why?
• How would you respond if someone challenged one of these family values?
• Outside of our family life, how do these values as a family shape your own actions?

Keep the Family Values Conversations Going

Now that you have these questions to utilize, save some of your favorites and set a date for when you will regularly check-in. This process of living from family values gets easier as you become more consistent as a family. Ask your family for input and add their own questions as well.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to start integrating your values as a family, follow along with this guide: https://legacystone.com/values-that-last/introducing-and-integrating-values-with-your-family