David Beckham Discusses Parenting Values and Philanthropic Efforts at World Economic Forum

David Beckham opened up about the "simple values" his parents taught him that he passed on to his children, during a conversation with CNBC host Tania Bryer at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The former soccer star attended the WEF for the first time to receive the Crystal Award for philanthropy, recognizing his work protecting vulnerable children as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2005.

Bryar asked Beckham about the source of his passion to make a difference and the values his parents instilled in him. Beckham stated, "I think they instilled in me the right values and it's the simple values of treating everyone the same and showing respect to people. I tried to do the same with my children."

The 49-year-old father of four noted that his youngest, Harper, is 13 and his eldest, Brooklyn, is 25. "My boys all know that they let a woman walk through the door before they do. They stand up when a lady leaves the table, they shake hands, eye contact. You know all of those values, their pleases, their thank yous."

Beckham added, "All of my kids have said pleases and thank yous from two, three years old. So it's the simple values that me and Victoria grew up with that we've tried to instill into our children."

He mentioned that having children has inspired his work with kids globally, noting extensive travel to raise awareness about UNICEF’s mission. Beckham has visited places like Cambodia, South Africa, and the Philippines to engage with affected children.

Beckham commented, "I've taken a few of my kids on different trips. They know exactly the work that I do for UNICEF. They all want to get involved in the UNICEF work that I do. They all want to help in different ways and different charities."

He continues to share photographs from his travels with his children to show them the realities of the world, believing that understanding global issues is essential.

In his speech during the awards ceremony, Beckham emphasized that "girls are held back" by poverty, violence, and discrimination. He advocated for equal opportunities for all children, stating, "I want my daughter Harper to have the same opportunities as her brothers, and that should be the case for all girls everywhere."

Throughout his discussion with Bryer, Beckham also touched on his legendary soccer career from 1992 to 2013, his role as president and co-owner of soccer club Inter Miami CF, and shared his insights on social media.