Back To School And Character

Back to School and We Hope YOU Do NOT forget your Character!

Why kids Character matters in the Home, Community and Classroom:

While children are heading back to school and new supplies and backpacks are always a need, so is good character. It is Good Character that sets them up for success and life learning lessons in which they build upon. At home, following the rules and helping out is important as well as in the community, however, in the classroom is a place where children practice these values, like honesty, respect, good behaviors and kindness each and every day.

This is why building good character matters as school begins:

REMEMBER:

• Character builds friendships and helps children form relationships.

• Character shapes choices, helps teach coping skills in your children.

• Character supports learning, like organizational skills and discipline.

• Character builds confidence and is a way for a child to engage in activities and conversations.

• Character is a life long lesson preparing children for life choices, lays a foundation for who they will become as they grow into their best self.

Simple Tips for Parents and Educators:

As one prepares for the school year, take the time to talk with your children about good characters, what it means, what it sounds like feels like and what it looks like. Role play these if you want to, be a bully and let your child feel what that feels like so that they are not one. Leave them out of a conversation or activity so they feel what that feels like and they are more likely to include others. By putting your child in these positions allows them to feel all the feels and it doesn’t feel good. Teach them empathy and talk about how to be kind, respectful and honest for starters.

You can ask your children things like, “What does it mean to take responsibility for your learning?” For example, in the class when a student said their mom forgot to put their homework in their backpack, I expressed that it is their responsibility to do this. Or if they forgot to brush their teeth, I told them that it is their responsibility to do this, things of this nature helps them understand what being responsible might look like.

Another discussion might be, “How can you be a good friend to someone new?” Or, “What does good behavior look like in school or at home?” Get their thoughts out there so that you can understand what they are thinking and if need be direct them on a better path to good character.

Here are past blog posts with a lot of great resources to help you teach and reinforce character at home, at school and in life:

• Certificates of Achievement to encourage good character can be found here.

• Tips For Back To School and transitioning into a new routine can be found here.

• The Power of Friendships can be found here.

Paint With Miss Joni and Behavior Bear on YouTube here.

How To Be Friends Video on You Tube here.

We hope you have a safe, healthy and fulfilling school year! Building a firm foundation today will last a lifetime of learning with your children.