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Build Character Now, Practical Tools for Busy Parents
Character is in crisis. Everyday your children see
their sports heroes, movie stars, and music idols acting
badly. How can you help your children become the people
they were meant? As a busy parent, this article offers you
an excellent method for building character in your children
and bonding with them too.
"To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate
a menace to society."
-Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President
Teddy Roosevelt hit the mark with his words. To educate a
child in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and not about
living is to raise a menace to society.
How do we as parents, teachers, and mentors help children
build character? Below you will notice the five
character-building goals to instill in your children. Using
questions as practical tools is an easy and excellent way to
promote those goals and build character too.
Imagine that a boy named Harold recently moved into your
neighborhood. He constantly causes trouble. The school
principal just sent him home with a note addressed to his
parents about his acting out in class. You and your child
discuss Harold's problems. You center your discussion on the
five key goals listed below. To instill each goal, ask your
child the following practical questions:
Goal 1: Empathy-Being aware of and caring about others'
feelings.
Question: If you were Harold, how would you feel?
Goal 2: Role Taking-Putting oneself into another's
shoes and understanding where they are coming
from.
Question: What do you think Harold wanted by acting out in
class?
Goal 3: Social Awareness-Being aware of other's opinions,
their needs, their likes, and dislikes.
Question: If you were a classmate of Harold's, what might
you think of Harold?
Goal 4: Self-Reflection-Examining our own thoughts,
feelings, and, behaviors.
Question: Have you ever misbehaved in class? How did you
feel about yourself?
Goal 5: Internalizing Good Advice-Taking to heart the
advice your child gives to others and following it when
he or she needs it.
Question: If you were giving good advice to Harold, what
would you tell him?
Congratulations! By asking the above questions, you
have just strengthened your child's character because you
have awakened your child's thoughtful mind and caring heart.
We've examined what goals to instill and what
questions to ask. Let's learn when to build character by
asking the above questions in the following situations:
Problems with characters on TV
Problems on the school bus
Problems in the classroom
Problems in the neighborhood
Problems at home
Problems in discussion stories
Now, it's time to take action. If you're like most
busy parents just remember the questions and ask them often.
Get your children to think and to feel wisely. Bond with
your kids. Use these tools now and you will be building
character in your children and a better society for us all.
Jean Tracy, MSS, former teacher and family counselor, now
author and speaker, is an award winning Distinguished
Toastmaster. Jean helps parents and teachers raise awesome
kids with awesome characters. You will find her parent/child
discussion book, Character Building on BackTalk Street, her
parenting products, and FREE bonding activities, parenting
tips, and articles at
http://www.KidsDiscuss.com
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