Right and Wrong: Moral Development in Children, DVD

Children Look to Adults to Learn How to Live (02:42)
Children watch the adults around them to learn how they should live their lives. Many children distinguish between "bad" acts done on purpose and those that are accidental.

Children's Moral Codes (03:48)
A six-year-old child raised in a socially and financially deprived neighborhood learns rules of behavior from her parents, yet she often chooses to disobey them. She often chooses her own moral code instead of her parents'.

Inconsistent Adult Models for Children (02:54)
When a child's dog is stolen, the first-grade teacher turns the search for the dog into a class project. Six-year-old Charlie observes different models or right and wrong in the adults around her.

Religion and Children's Moral Codes (04:18)
Scientists believe that children distinguish between what is morally wrong and what is merely a social convention around age four. One child in the study group learns about the power of prayer and a clear distinction between right and wrong.

When Adult Troubles Enter a Child's Life (05:39)
Because his beliefs dictate that he must help others, six-year-old Eve's father will donate a kidney to his brother. Eve's mother has a difficult pregnancy. Eve worries that her mother and the baby will die. What do children think about death?

How Children Learn to Socialize (04:36)
Tyrese is the youngest in a family of girls. Since birth, his mother believed his life would not be easy as a black male child. She raises him to be tough-minded and aggressive. In school, Tyrese is a difficult child, often misbehaving and interfering with other children.

Child Raised in Buddhist Household (04:10)
Because his parents are Buddhists, six-year-old Nathan is encouraged to meditate on a regular basis. Bedtime stories include lessons from the Buddha's life.

Child Raised with Unconventional Values (02:56)
Nathan's parents raise him with their own values, separate from those of popular culture. At six years of age, Nathan is an avid birdwatcher. Strong values and absolute rules can be hard for anyone to live up to, including Nathan.

Parental Ambition and Children's Well-Being (04:03)
Because she believes her son Tyrese will not thrive as a black boy in Britain, ambitious Marie moves her family to The Gambia temporarily while she invests in property.

Children and Cheating (01:54)
In tests with children all over the world, scientists find that children will approach a task with integrity, but if unsuccessful, they will "cheat" to get the job done. But will they admit it to adults?

Children Face Family Health Issues (03:59)
Six-year-old Eve experiences illness in her family when her father must lose weight to donate a kidney, her mother has a difficult pregnancy, and her uncle may die without a kidney. How do the family troubles affect Eve?

Children Learn Moral Principles (04:53)
How do children face moral dilemmas? Parents' moral codes affect children's moral codes to a great extent. In addition to meditating, six-year-old Nathan takes karate lessons from his father, who believes it gives Nathan an outlet for his energy.

Children Adapt to Change (03:21)
Six-year-old Nathan learns about adaptability and tolerance during dinner-table discussions. When the family decides to move closer to the school, Nathan contemplates how his life would be different. Will family values survive during this time of change?

Parents' Lives Outside Their Children's Lives (04:21)
Six-year-old Tyrese's mother hopes that her sense of purpose and self-belief will continue to rub off on Tyrese. An unemployed father takes over household and child rearing tasks. A mother finds fulfilling work outside the family home.

Moral Values in Children (04:07)
At six years of age, Charlie is well-adjusted at school and receives high marks for manners and decorum. As her parents struggle with unemployment, Charlie's disposition changes. Children often have stronger moral codes than their parents.