Character is basically a big word that really means how you act when no one is looking. Character is a set of qualities that shape our thoughts, actions, reactions and feelings. People with strong character:
• Show compassion (put yourself in someone else’s shoes and think how the would feel if they were treated a certain way.)
• Are honest and fair you give everyone a change
• Display self-discipline in setting and meeting goals
• Make good judgments
• Show respect to others
• Show courage in standing up for what they believe in
• Have a strong sense of responsibility
• Are good citizens who are concerned about their community
• Maintain self-respect Information from U.S. Department of Education
char•ac•ter: ˈkariktər/noun
noun: character; plural noun: characters
1. the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”running away was not in keeping with her character”
Goodness is about character — integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. Dennis Prager
For Parents: How to teach your kids character
• Talk about the point-of-view of others as you watch TV, read books or discuss other people with your child. For example, ask, “What do you think that character is feeling and thinking?”
• Show care toward others, such as doing errands for sick neighbors or opening doors for others.
• Give others the benefit of the doubt. If your child complains that a classmate deliberately pushed her down on the way to lunch, explain that sometimes when people are in a hurry, they don’t watch where they’re going — they don’t mean to push or hurt anyone.
• Be open to differences. If your child says “Our new neighbors dress funny,” explain that people often wear clothes that reflect their cultures or native countries.
• Most of all, teach your children right from wrong. More importantly, model it for them on a daily basis.
Did you Know…
Being kind can actually make you happier and help you live longer! Research also shows that people who don’t know how to be kind or how to accept kindness from others are just as unhappy as they are unkind.
