How To Build Good Character In Your Child

1) Model Compassion
Compassion means identifying and sympathizing with others' emotions and needs. Help your child see what it means to be compassionate. Volunteer to help those in need. Open doors for others. If you see your child doing or saying something hurtful, ask him, "How do you think that made him feel? How would you feel if the situation were reversed?

2) Take A Walk in Another Person's Shoes
Empathy means to feel what others are experiencing. Understanding others' joy and suffering helps us care for them. Help your child understand what others are going through. As you read books and watch movies together, ask him what he thinks various characters are feeling and thinking.

3) Show Tolerance and Respect Differences
Tolerance allows us to understand and accept different cultures, beliefs and points of view. Be open to differences and teach your child to celebrate diversity. If your child comments on someone "dress[ing] funny," explain that people often wear clothes that reflect their culture or home country.

4) Be a Person of Your Word!
Honesty means telling the truth to others and ourselves. Owning up to our mistakes and admitting the truth can help others. Demonstrate honesty for your child by practicing it yourself. Discuss what honesty is and what honesty is not. Teach him that honesty should be practiced with kindness. Tell your child to avoid saying something mean even if he thinks it's the truth.

5) Promote Fairness and Equality
Fairness means equal treatment and opportunity. Standing up for others' rights and playing by the rules shows respect and responsibility. Talk to your child about how he thinks fairness is demonstrated in a family, with friends and in a community. Ask him, "Have you ever seen someone be treated unfairly? What did you do?"

6) Be Kind to Yourself and Others
Self-respect is earned by showing compassion, honesty, fairness and humility towards others and oneself. Boost your child's confidence by praising his good qualities. Ask him, "What does it mean to respect yourself? How do you show respect for yourself?"

7) Build Character by Being Responsible
Responsibility means taking ownership of one's behavior and actions. Help your child understand how he has control over his actions. Discuss examples of how his actions influence what happens next. Explain that growing up means taking responsibility by helping around the house and taking care of siblings.

8) Encourage Self Discipline
Self-discipline is practicing the control to create and follow through with a plan. This means developing the patience to deal with emotions in a healthy way and delay gratification (for instance, finishing up homework before playing outside). Help your child set and reach realistic goals: Break larger tasks into smaller parts, then encourage him to pick a task and set a deadline.

9) Encourage Good Judgement
Good judgment requires careful decision making. Remind your child to think about the consequences of his actions, reason through feelings and facts, and consider impulses before acting on them. Discuss difference scenarios with your child and brainstorm what the best course of action would be in each situation. ("If your friend asked to copy your homework, what would you do?")

10) Do Your Civic Duty
A responsible citizen cares for his community and actively works to help the greater good. Model good citizenship to your child by spending time in his classroom, volunteering with the elderly, donating items for those in need.



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