Character education covers a wide range of topics. It includes teaching children social skills and moral values such as honesty, unselfishness and tolerance. Other important character-building skills include interpersonal skills such as teaching children good manners, getting along and working well with others, and anger management.
It is not easy to teach a child moral skills today. TV shows, children’s cartoons, games, and even many children’s internet sites glorify lying, stealing, fighting, and other unacceptable forms of behaviour. However, parents can provide a sound moral education for their youngsters.
We give parents some good tips on beginning character education for their youngsters and the best character-building tips.
Table of Contents
Character Education Traits: Setting an Example
Children are more astute and smarter than most parents realise. They will soon see through any hypocritical attempts to get them to behave differently from their parents. If parents want to be successful in teaching their children to have a strong moral foundation, they must exhibit a strong moral foundation in their own lives.
Parents who shoplift will soon find that their youngsters will pick up on the habit and may even graduate from this relatively petty offence to more serious crimes such as burglary or armed robbery. Parents who take drugs should not be surprised when children show an interest in illicit substances as well.
At the same time, parents who refrain from illegal or immoral behaviour are still sometimes guilty of setting the wrong example for their children. If a child picks up the phone when a parent is at home and the parent instructs the child to state that he or she is not at home, this teaches children that it is sometimes OK to lie to people. Parents who swipe pencils and pens from the office likewise teach children that taking what does not belong to them is sometimes permissible.
While parents will never be perfect, they should strive to emulate the right standard of behaviour. When parents make mistakes in front of their children, they should apologise and remedy the mistake if necessary. This teaches children to respect the values that their parents are trying to instill in them.
Character Education Traits: Keeping Tabs on Internet Usage, Games, Movies and Books
Parents should keep a close eye on what children see and hear. Parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers should only allow children to watch pre-recorded shows or shows downloaded onto a computer. Thankfully, numerous good shows are available that promote educative content and sound moral values; some good programs include Treasure Attic, Baby Einstein, and Blue’s Clues.
Children will naturally want to watch popular movies, cartoons and TV shows when they age. Even so, parents should agree on rules governing what sorts of books and movies are permissible and not forbidden. Ideally, parents will want to learn more about any given TV show, movie or book before giving it to a child; this can be done by quickly previewing the book or movie or finding out more information about it online. Time permitting, parents may want to read a book or watch a movie with a child to address morally inappropriate behaviour and answer any questions a child may have.
Laying Down Guidelines for Unacceptable Behaviour
A very important aspect of character education is establishing guidelines for unacceptable behaviour. While many psychologists still promote the theory that children should be permitted to do as they please, many sensible parents have now realized that children need and even appreciate boundaries and guidelines.
A very general yet very helpful set of guidelines on character education values would be as follows:
- You may not hurt yourself.
- You may not hurt others.
- You may not damage things.
These guidelines encompass acceptable and unacceptable forms of behaviour. Parents can then build on these guidelines by explaining to children which forms of behaviour are not permissible and setting consequences for unacceptable behaviour.
Naturally, the consequence of any offence will depend on the child’s age. A two-year-old who bullies a peer should be given a “time out” of no more than five minutes; an older child who engages in this same behaviour may need to be grounded for a weekend. As children age, certain rules will probably need to be changed, although the basic guidelines behind any rule will always remain in place.
Children older than five or six will appreciate the opportunity to sit with parents and help draw up a list of guidelines. This time is great for instilling moral values in children, as parents can explain the rules and why certain rules are important. Children and parents should also devise a list of consequences for not keeping certain rules. A child who helps to make the rules with the parents will usually be more inclined to keep these rules than a child who is not involved in the rulemaking process.
Children should also be allowed to face the full consequences of their actions. For instance, a child who swipes an item from a friend at school should be made to return the item and apologise. A child who does not care for his or her toys should not have these toys automatically replaced when they break or stop working. An older child who chooses of his or her own free will to sign up for a class or sports team should not be permitted to drop out of the activity or drop off the team without a valid reason.
Actively Teaching Moral Values
Parents will want to do what they can to teach their children moral values. If a child is going through a particular phase (e.g., being disobedient, lazy, argumentative, etc.), parents should talk to the child about this particular issue and help him or her overcome the problem.
YouTube and various children’s websites have morally uplifting stories, songs and videos that can be used to provide moral training on any given topic. By doing an internet search on any given theme, parents can find numerous free resources that will help them teach their children important moral skills. Parents can also find good books on any topic at a local library, book store or even flea market sale.
One particularly important aspect of moral value education is teaching children to care for others. Many volunteer opportunities in any given state permit parents and children to engage in activities such as feeding the homeless, caring for stray animals and cleaning up a local park. Teaching children to donate unwanted items in good condition to Goodwill or a homeless shelter also imparts good moral values to kids who would otherwise be overly focused on their needs and wants.
There are even overseas volunteer activities that enable families to go on vacation to a foreign country and help needy residents of that country. Numerous churches provide mission trip opportunities for families with older children, and such trips can be ideal for Christian parents who want to help children learn compassion, tolerance, and other important values.
Start as Early as Possible
The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) in Australia has recently noted that 90% of a child’s brain is developed by age three. The earlier a child is taught basic character values, the better. While certain problems do not arise until a child is older and cannot be dealt with early, babies and toddlers can learn many important values, such as kindness, unselfishness, obedience, honesty, perseverance and basic teamwork skills.
The earlier a child is taught basic values, the more likely he or she is to retain these values. Naturally, no child is perfect, and all children will, at times, behave in an unacceptable manner. However, the best advice for parents who want to give their children a sound moral foundation would be to impart moral values to children well before they start walking and talking.
Tips for Character Education in Summary
Providing a solid character education for children is a long-term endeavour, but it is well worth the time and effort spent. Children who learn values such as compassion, honesty and teamwork will be successful in life, even if they cannot get a high-paying job or own all the gadgets or assets they would like. Children with a sound moral foundation are also happier and more at peace than others who were raised to believe that doing what feels good at the time is the key to a happy life.
In short, five very important aspects of imparting moral training and Character Building Values to children exist. These are starting as early as possible, setting a good example, actively teaching values, restricting access to morally harmful materials and setting guidelines to ensure children behave appropriately. While children and even parents will fail and make mistakes from time to time, having a standard of morals to adhere to will help children learn not only what is and is not acceptable but also why certain forms of behaviour are not permissible, the consequences for trespassing moral boundaries and the rewards for living a morally sound life.
FAQs
How can I encourage my child to be more empathetic?
Encourage empathy by discussing feelings, volunteering, and reading stories about diverse characters.
What role does technology play in character development?
Technology can be a positive tool for character development if used responsibly. Limit screen time, choose educational apps, and discuss online safety.
What are some effective ways to teach responsibility to a child?
Assign age-appropriate chores, set clear expectations, and provide praise for completing tasks.
How can I help my child develop a strong sense of self-discipline?
Establish routines, set achievable goals, and teach self-control techniques.