Children: Building Character

Teach these words to your children — not by telling them what they mean — but by "showing" them through your actions.

Action
Attentiveness
Attitude
Caring
Compassion
Citizenship
Civility
Contentment
Convictions
Confidence
Cooperation
Courage
Courtesy
Dependability
Determination
Diligence
Empathy
Enthusiasm

Fairness
Feelings
Freedom
Friendship
Generosity
Helpfulness
Honesty
Honor
Hope
Humility
Integrity
Joyfulness
Kindness
Listen
Love
Loyalty
Manners
Obedience

Optimism
Orderliness
Patience
Peace
Perseverance
Punctuality
Reputation
Respect
Responsibility
Self-Control
Sharing
Thankfulness
Teamwork
Thoughtfulness
Togetherness
Tolerance
Trustworthiness
Work

Here's an artistic view of these character words made at Wordle.net. Wordle is free to use. You can also use your results to create and sell t-shirts — even the Wordle creations of other people. Click this Character Wordle to see it big.

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming. Jim Rohn


Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece — by thought, choice, courage and determination. John Luther

Nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln

Let your eyes light up when your child enters the room. Paraphrased from Toni Morrison

Take this idea and develop it into a party hit for kids where they will have fun and learn at the same time.

The nuts and bolts: Invite your child's friends to a Character-Building Party. Plan a few events. Depending upon the weather, it could be horseshoes, a basketball game, swimming, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or other indoor and outdoor games.

Between events, use a dilemmas book or the conversation-starter cards like the preceding ones I've recommended, and select questions to ask the children. They will probably surprise you with their thoughtful answers. You'll, no doubt, be doubly surprised at how much they enjoy this thinking and growing party!
 

It's my guess that the letter (below) was written back when sons went to boarding school and therefore were not always living at home with their parents. It seems that this parent had written a letter to the Headmaster.

In this excerpt, the father offers advice on how the teachers at the school can best care for his child. I present it here to inspire parents as teachers.

The author of the letter is unknown, but it has been widely attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's historians say that he did not write it, though. However, it's very inspirational, and I am happy to share it here.

FamilyEducation.com From the site: We've gathered a host of expert answers to your most pressing character concerns.

GoodCharacter.com: Character Education: Free Resources, Materials, Lesson Plans.

Greater Good Science Center: Article: The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness
by Christine Carter, UC Berkeley

KidsDiscuss: Parents learn character-building skills. Free parenting articles and free newsletter.

Character.org: Developing young people of good character who become responsible and caring citizens.

CharacterCounts.org: The most widely implemented approach to character education -- embraced by thousands of schools, communities, public agencies and nonprofits.

The Virtues Project: The Mission of The Virtues ProjectTM is to provide empowering strategies that inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life through programs of excellence and simplicity which support people of all ages to cultivate their virtues -- the gifts of character.

Insightful article on how violent criminals get to be the way they are. Free (in PDF format).