Korie Robertson: 'As a country we've kind of lost our way'

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Important traits your child needs to succeed

'Duck Dynasty's' Korie Robertson shares her words of wisdom in new book 'Strong and Kind'

“Duck Dynasty” star Korie Robertson is constantly asked how she and husband Willie Robertson raised their children, so the reality star decided to write it down. "Strong and Kind: And Other Important Character Traits Your Child Needs to Succeed," lays out their parenting philosophy and advice. The mother of John Luke, Sadie, Bella, Rebecca and Will spoke to FOX411 about her latest book.

FOX411: How did this book come about?
Korie Robertson: When my kids were little I was talking with other moms about what kind of values we wanted to instill in our children, and I went home that night and wrote down "Strong and Kind," and Willie and I talked about it and that was kind of the beginning of that -- The realization that parenting is a lot more than feeding them and changing their diapers. It's about helping them become healthy adults that contribute to society and are happy and healthy in this world, and that's when I came up with "Strong and Kind." And that's the values that I've worked to instill in them and I've see as a country we've kind of lost our way a little bit as far as what we value, what we think is important. We've forgotten what good, strong character is and what it means. I think this book is kind of a call back to that.

FOX411: How have we lost our way?
Robertson: I think we've gotten a little bit confused about right and wrong, what is important. While we might say we value things like honesty and hard work and self-control and patience, we're not really living like that's what we value. We might say that's important but if you're not living it then your kids aren't seeing it, and they're not going to live it either. It's more than just saying it. It's actually living it.

FOX411: So what are your tips for parents?
Robertson: First of all it's I think it's about being intentional. I'm not trying to tell parents how to parent their children, I'm just saying think about it. Think about what you really want and how are you going to put that in your kids and then second it's about being confident. Kids sense weakness a mile away and if you as a parent are not confident in your beliefs, in knowing that God gave you these children to raise… the kids will sense that, and they'll use that to their advantage. I think it's about being real with our kids too. We're not perfect but we need to communicate with our kids when we mess up. We need to talk about it. 'Look I wasn't kind the other day in the way I treated your daddy,' or 'I wasn't kind in the way I treated you, and I shouldn't have done that, and I'm going to be different. I'm going to be better.' Whenever they see us mess up, we own up to it and we move on. I think that's really important for our kids to see that so they will come to us and talk to us when they go through tough times.

FOX411: What do you say to parents who experimented with drugs or were promiscuous when younger?
Robertson: I think they should be honest, they should tell them what they went through. Kids learn from their parents. Hopefully they'll learn from your mistakes and make different choices. Sometimes they make the same choices, and they have to learn on their own. Some kids have to learn the hard way and that's the way it is.

Our kids need to see us and see how we live, see us doing good in the world, being compassionate. We need to take our kids on trips where we are helping others, help others in the community. They need to see us living the values that we tell them is important.

FOX411: Do you think social media has had a negative effect?
Robertson: Yes, I think it's a huge part of it. Those worldly values like what you look like, how much money you make or how successful you are, sometimes it seems more important because you're just seeing it all the time, comparing yourself to others, and that can be detrimental. You have to look at what's inside a person not just what the picture shows.

FOX411: Kids see Kylie Jenner with a Rolls Royce and cosmetic surgery, and she's 18. Kids start thinking that's normal.
Robertson: I think it's a very strange world we live in where people today look at that and think that's normal where we are so wealthy in society. You look at that, and you want more and more and more. I think it is a negative thing for people. I'm not saying they're negative. I'm saying that is a negative thing to look at and think, 'That's what I should have,' or 'What I need,' or 'What I have to have to be happy.' When really it's what's on the inside that counts and that's a callback to character. Saying whatever is on the outside is superficial and that's what's not important in life.