Caught Showing Good Character Ways to Teach Key Characteristics to Children

1Defining and Mimicking Games - First, it is key that your child understands what each of these characteristics means and looks like in action. For example, what actions show integrity or what expressions show compassion? What does it mean to be resourceful? Practice with them on actually fulfilling these traits. You can also mimic life situations when a certain characteristic is needed and work with them until your child is comfortable.

2Characteristics Charades - After defining and mimicking the characteristics, continue to practice and act them out. On pieces of paper, write down different characteristics and/or emotions.

Then, take turns picking one out of a hat or bowl. Act out that characteristic or emotion, while the audience tries to guess the correct answer. The purpose of this game is for children to learn, recognize and practice with the traits. Kids are developing the social skills to recognize emotions through another person’s facial and body cues and the best way to react. You can also switch this activity to a Pictionary-version, where children draw characteristics of the chosen trait or emotion.

CAUGHT SHOWING GOOD CHARACTER

Ways to Teach Key Characteristics to Children

BY MEGAN TAYLOR

Children model adult’s behaviors and actions. They are often watching how we react to different situations and how we interact with others. Children learn from adults and, as they grow, their own behaviors and actions can resemble the adults in their lives. It is important for adults, whether they are parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers or coaches, to make sure to showcase positive characteristics. For example, we should extend respect to others, display empathy and demonstrate kindness. By modeling these traits, we are letting children know they are valuable and necessary.

Some of the key characteristics children (and adults) should exhibit are:

Respect Empathy Kindness Compassion Integrity Honesty Resilience Resourcefulness Curiosity Social Skills Assertiveness Humility Patience Grit and Determination Gratitude Self-Control Loyalty Adaptability Proactivity Mindfulness

This is not a full list, and many of these characteristics are similar in meaning. While children are born with a little understanding of these traits, it is up to the adults in their lives to help these traits grow. When it comes to teaching characteristics, the best way to do this is by modeling and practicing activities. These activities can be adapted for any age group, young or old.

3Step Into Conversation - Part of knowing how to correctly showcase a characteristic is continuing to work on how to respond to a situation or to another person. Step Into Conversation is a well-known card game that gives children structured social skills activities. They learn how to talk appropriately, carry on a conversation and teach other necessary skills.

4Complete Acts of Kindness - There are several different ways you can teach your child how to show kindness. Starting at home, you can model for them how to help someone and then encourage them to do so. As a family, create a volunteer project, whether it be donating items to a local charity or volunteering your time together.

These actions will show children that it is important to show kindness and compassion to others at home and in the community.

5Share Stories - Adults can use their own childhoods and experiences as examples to help their children learn and develop these characteristics. These stories could include times when you made a mistake, hurt someone’s feelings by accident and how you responded to those situations. Through this activity, your child will learn that sometimes these actions happen and you develop stronger traits because of them. They are also great conversation starters and relationships builders for adults and children.

No matter if you are a child or adult, it can be valuable to revisit and relearn necessary characteristics from time to time. Children are still learning and observing. Our goal is for them to become successful as they grow up, and by helping them practice these characteristics, adults are doing just that.

Making this HEART-FULL Holiday More Interesting and Inspiring!

BY SUSAN B B SCHABACKER

No need to twiddle your thumbs…. Ignite your life with inspiring and interesting ideas this heartful holiday. Still wondering what to do this Valentine’s? No room for boredom. Make the most of your time on this beautiful day!

• Sow seeds with love with an indoor edible garden of herbs, salad greens, and/or your favorite flowers in small pots kept by a window. Have them handy in your kitchen for your culinary creations.

• Lighten up with laughter that’s contagious. Crave comedy?

Watch and/or listen to your favorite comedian(s) or host your own stand up (or sit down; pun intended) comedy event.

• Ready for the romantic? Read a romance novel or watch a rom-com with your meal. Want more? Binge watch in a movie marathon of rom-coms all about love.

• Sometimes Valentine’s can exacerbate the frustrations of feeling alone. So, if you’re single and feel like you’re missing out on romantic love, you’re not alone. Mr. Right may not be in close proximity, but you never know. So, don’t stop the search because you’re tired of looking for him.

With dating sites and apps at your virtual fingertips, start swiping, and be sure to swipe right on a potential Mr. Right.

Tired of online dating and the virtual world? Try blind dating through your network of family and friends, who can provide real recommendations. • Love books? Have a bookathon and read by yourself, or out loud to others, love-related books, from children’s books to romance novels. Look at your local library and/or online.

Empower your own writing and author your own book or e-book about love, whether fact, fiction, or based on a true story. And, if you want to take it even farther, create a short film and hit up the film festivals.

• Reminisce, reflect, and record your love stories, whether focused on your life or a collection of others’ love stories—in audio, video, a slideshow of images, or handbound book. Or are you more of a poetess? Compile a collection of love poems that you can give as a gift.

• Who doesn’t love a love letter?

You don’t have to be in love to share a love letter. In fact, you can write love letters to strangers on the streets that could make their day or change their entire lives. Write lovingly, from the heart, and seal with a kiss (whether invisible or with red or pink lipstick as a signature, decorative touch).

Nothing reinforces and triggers memories quite like aromas that linger in our hearts, minds, and noses, so add a simply scent-sational fragrance with a spray or two.

• The nose knows! Celebrities aren’t the only ones who can have a signature fragrance.

Create your own scent-sational signature fragrance, uniquely you, or that represents the essence of love. Makes an ideal gift. Consider a loved one’s most notable and distinctive characteristics, personality, and appearance, as you choose your essential or fragrance oils. Learn from a tutorial or research more in depth how to custom blend your fragrance. The options are many. Aside from perfume and cologne, also try roll-on oils, lotions, balms, salves, and powders.

• Cookie cutters aren’t just for cookies! Enjoy breakfast in bed this heart-full holiday with heart-shaped toast or French toast, or lunch with heartshaped sandwiches.

• There’s always someone who’s struggling or suffering and in need of love and support.

Creatively craft or write an uplifting message of love for a

COVID patient, cancer patient, veteran, homeless mother, and/or a neighbor in need.

Flowers and/or handmade arts and crafts gifts you can easily

DIY and benefit from with art therapy are also a bonus.

Celebrate a meaningful, memorable Valentine’s, whether solo or with loved ones. Creatively get heartfull and artfull, as you experience and express what none of us can truly live without. The Beatles sang it in their song, “All You Need is Love.”

However you spend this Valentine’s holiday, may it be truly heartful and happy!