The subject of interest of this article are the factors that significantly affect the value
system of younger school children living in the country. The particular roles in this area are played
by the child’s individual predispositions, immediate environment — family, school, child‑raising
environment and the media. It can be observed that children’s orientation of valuing—
normative
system — is highly influenced by their parents’ attitudes and values that they apply in life. Children
learn how to behave by imitating people that are of significant value to them. Emotional experience
and the opportunity to experience are most important to learn to value. Rural environment is the
source of social and transcendental values — family and living according to religious principles are
highly appreciated. Rural environment greatly influences the parenting attitudes and thus the development
of the value system of the children who are brought up there. Shaping the value system is
a process that is long in time and dependent on many factors. The article is based on the author’s
own research conducted in villages Międzyrzecze and Bronów
