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Character Education
Does Your Family Need a Core Value Document?
By: Laura Pulido & Jocelyn Woo
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, (1749-1832)
Have you ever gone over the speed limit? Have you ever noticed that the waiter did not charge you for the extra drink, and you didn't bring it to their attention when paying the bill? Have you ever told a "little white lie?" Honestly, there are moments in all of our lives that we have made character decisions that did not reflect the "right" thing. Thinking about those moments, would you have made the same decision if you were on national television for millions to see your decision? True character is doing the right thing when no one is watching.
Character education is critical to our children's development. Therefore, we have addressed some of the most common questions about character development and how you can build strong values in your family.
Q. What is character education? It is teaching our children the ethical values, primarily through modeling, which form the foundation for their internal compass. It serves as their blueprint for determining what is "right" or "wrong" when making decisions.
Q. At what age should I begin teaching character to my son or daughter? This is an easy question - the day they are born!
Q. What can I do today to help equip my child with strong character traits?
The Three R’s: Role Model, Road Map, and Rich Experiences
1. Role model - Role model the character you want your child to embrace - be the person you want them to become. They learn first from modeled behavior.
2. Road Map - Construct a formal "Our Family's Core Values" document (we LOVE this one.) Sit down with your entire family and discuss what core values are most important to you as a family. It could be respect, consideration, caring, trustworthiness, unconditional love, and so forth. Once you have selected your core values, give examples of what that core value "looks like." A young child will not understand how to employ trustworthiness. Share with them that when they feed the dog as promised, they are being trustworthy. At the end of each week, set aside a few minutes to talk about how you exercised the core values during the week. This could be during dinner or even on the car ride to the school. By weekly revisiting the core values, it will help build an awareness of "right and wrong" decisions in everyday life situations. By constructing and writing down your family's core values, you are providing a life-long road map to a rich and rewarding life.
3. Rich Experiences - Plan character building activities. For example, in Los Angeles, we have an incredible Museum of Tolerance www.museumoftolerance.com. It is an educational center dedicated to challenging visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today. This is a great activity to discuss the core value "respect." Another idea to emphasize the core value "caring" could be to help an elderly family member or friend with chores such as grocery shopping, making them dinner, or planting some spring flowers in their yard.
Q. What are some examples of different core values? Here is a beginning list to help you determine which core values are specifically important to YOUR family:
• Respect: Think of the Golden Rule - It is being accepting and considerate of others
• Considerate: Thoughtful of the rights or feelings of others
• Trustworthiness: Following through with your promises even when it is difficult or unpopular
• Caring: Being compassionate and having a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others
• Citizenship: Respecting authority and doing your share to improve our country
• Loving: Unselfish loyal and unconditional concern for others
• Responsibility: Being accountable for your commitments, words, and actions
• Fair: Taking turns, sharing, playing by the rules, and being open-minded
• Honesty: Being completely truthful
• Kindness: Extending sympathy, helping others in need
Character education for your son or daughter is a continuum of relationships, experiences, and lessons shared by their entire social structure of parents, friends, teachers, etc. However, as their parent, you will have the greatest influence on their character compass.
The Protocol Institute offers eLearning courses accessible anytime, anywhere with rich, engaging interactivity. We use technology to teach and equip future leaders and citizens with basic life skills to successfully connect both online and offline. Take one out for a test drive: Experience for yourself this state-of-the-art learning environment by taking a free eLearning course, exclusive to Macaroni Kid subscribers.
Visit www.theprotocolinstitute.com, click on eLearning courses and use coupon code MK12 at checkout for the free Character Education eCourse. Coupon valid until April 30, 2011.
Have you ever gone over the speed limit? Have you ever noticed that the waiter did not charge you for the extra drink, and you didn't bring it to their attention when paying the bill? Have you ever told a "little white lie?" Honestly, there are moments in all of our lives that we have made character decisions that did not reflect the "right" thing. Thinking about those moments, would you have made the same decision if you were on national television for millions to see your decision? True character is doing the right thing when no one is watching.
Character education is critical to our children's development. Therefore, we have addressed some of the most common questions about character development and how you can build strong values in your family.
Q. What is character education? It is teaching our children the ethical values, primarily through modeling, which form the foundation for their internal compass. It serves as their blueprint for determining what is "right" or "wrong" when making decisions.
Q. At what age should I begin teaching character to my son or daughter? This is an easy question - the day they are born!
Q. What can I do today to help equip my child with strong character traits?
The Three R’s: Role Model, Road Map, and Rich Experiences
1. Role model - Role model the character you want your child to embrace - be the person you want them to become. They learn first from modeled behavior.
2. Road Map - Construct a formal "Our Family's Core Values" document (we LOVE this one.) Sit down with your entire family and discuss what core values are most important to you as a family. It could be respect, consideration, caring, trustworthiness, unconditional love, and so forth. Once you have selected your core values, give examples of what that core value "looks like." A young child will not understand how to employ trustworthiness. Share with them that when they feed the dog as promised, they are being trustworthy. At the end of each week, set aside a few minutes to talk about how you exercised the core values during the week. This could be during dinner or even on the car ride to the school. By weekly revisiting the core values, it will help build an awareness of "right and wrong" decisions in everyday life situations. By constructing and writing down your family's core values, you are providing a life-long road map to a rich and rewarding life.
3. Rich Experiences - Plan character building activities. For example, in Los Angeles, we have an incredible Museum of Tolerance www.museumoftolerance.com. It is an educational center dedicated to challenging visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today. This is a great activity to discuss the core value "respect." Another idea to emphasize the core value "caring" could be to help an elderly family member or friend with chores such as grocery shopping, making them dinner, or planting some spring flowers in their yard.
Q. What are some examples of different core values? Here is a beginning list to help you determine which core values are specifically important to YOUR family:
• Respect: Think of the Golden Rule - It is being accepting and considerate of others
• Considerate: Thoughtful of the rights or feelings of others
• Trustworthiness: Following through with your promises even when it is difficult or unpopular
• Caring: Being compassionate and having a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others
• Citizenship: Respecting authority and doing your share to improve our country
• Loving: Unselfish loyal and unconditional concern for others
• Responsibility: Being accountable for your commitments, words, and actions
• Fair: Taking turns, sharing, playing by the rules, and being open-minded
• Honesty: Being completely truthful
• Kindness: Extending sympathy, helping others in need
Character education for your son or daughter is a continuum of relationships, experiences, and lessons shared by their entire social structure of parents, friends, teachers, etc. However, as their parent, you will have the greatest influence on their character compass.
The Protocol Institute offers eLearning courses accessible anytime, anywhere with rich, engaging interactivity. We use technology to teach and equip future leaders and citizens with basic life skills to successfully connect both online and offline. Take one out for a test drive: Experience for yourself this state-of-the-art learning environment by taking a free eLearning course, exclusive to Macaroni Kid subscribers.
Visit www.theprotocolinstitute.com, click on eLearning courses and use coupon code MK12 at checkout for the free Character Education eCourse. Coupon valid until April 30, 2011.
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