It matters little whether the country is large or small — a key element in the strength of its social infrastructure will always depend on what values are passed on to each generation to ensure continuity for a society committed to common principles such as respect, tolerance and decency.

Whenever the ball is dropped in keeping those values at the forefront, society weakens and antisocial behaviour in many forms begins to take root.

There will always be those who sweep away such observations as being out of step with modern trends in a rapidly changing world. However, it is a different story when someone has not been taught proper values early and reacts by hurting others without a second thought. This happens daily throughout the world. In some cases, a misguided mind becomes vulnerable for acts of terrorism.

Few would dispute that we live in a rapidly changing world swamped with millions of negative distractions that create a great burden on the family unit whose focus should be on planting positive seeds early. No society is perfect, most certainly not Bermuda, but even with our problem of gang activity that sadly has resulted in lives lost over the years, many Bermudians are optimistic that with a stronger emphasis on family values, it could sharply reduce such activity in the next generation. Every family is important in that endeavour.

The remarkable part of having values taught early is that every adult in our communities can assist families by setting an example when interacting with young people that speaking in a respectful tone is essential even under difficult circumstances. That can be a challenge since children often display attitudes to impress their peers when not in the presence of their parents. It is the old peer-pressure element that so many young people fall victim to.

There have been disturbing reports of young people barely in their teens engaging in illegal drug activity and also consuming alcohol. This is not to say that all children who participate in such behaviour are bad, but the risk factor for lasting damage is a significant concern. In some cases, parents working two or three jobs may not even know what is going on until it is too late. Raising children in a climate of economic stress is often a bigger task because the window of high-quality time is narrow. Trying to keep a young mind focused requires more than just a few moments, and that could mean sacrifice in providing what we generally refer to as quality time.

Yes, Bermuda has undergone many changes and the window has almost closed for weekends where family would spend quiet time together.

While encouraging those groups who try to develop various youth programmes to fill gaps in the area of family communication, which are positive moves, there will never be a replacement for that parent-child relationship at the kitchen table.

Schools, churches, police and community activists play an important part in trying to preserve good community values, but their task could be made easier with more early input in the home.

We do have wonderfully strong families throughout our communities who know that children will not be able to pass on values unless they have been taught to do so. All of us on the island have a part to play in achieving that goal.

Few of us would send a child on a journey without proper directions. In life, nothing is more important than being provided with a guidepost to avoid pitfalls. In a world with so much changing, the least we can do is ensure that our children are armed with the essential values that would mean a better Bermuda for those yet to come.