To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President

Teddy Roosevelt hit the mark with his words. To educate a child in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and not about living is to raise a menace to society.

How do we as parents, teachers, and mentors help children build character? Below you will notice the five character-building goals to instill in your children. Using questions as practical tools is an easy and excellent way to promote those goals and build character too.

Imagine that a boy named Harold recently moved into your neighborhood. He constantly causes trouble. The school principal just sent him home with a note addressed to his parents about his acting out in class. You and your child discuss Harolds problems. You center your discussion on the five key goals listed below. To instill each goal, ask your child the following practical questions:

Goal 1:

Empathy-Being aware of and caring about others feelings.

Question: If you were Harold, how would you feel?

Goal 2:

Role Taking-Putting oneself into another's shoes and understanding where they are coming from.

Question:
What do you think Harold wanted by acting out in class?

Goal 3:

Social Awareness-Being aware of others opinions, their needs, their likes, and dislikes.

Question:
If you were a classmate of Harolds, what might you think of Harold?

Goal 4:

Self-Reflection-Examining our own thoughts,feelings,and, behaviors.

Question: Have you ever misbehaved in class? How did you feel about yourself?

Goal 5:

Internalizing Good Advice-Taking to heart the advice your child gives to others and following it when he or she needs it.

Question:
If you were giving good advice to Harold, what would you tell him?

Congratulations! By asking the above questions, you have just strengthened your childs character because you have awakened your childs thoughtful mind and caring heart.

Weve examined what goals to instill and what questions to ask. Let's learn where to build character by asking the above questions in the following situations:

Problem characters on TV

Problems on the school bus

Problems in the classroom

Problems in the neighborhood

Problems at home

Problems in discussion stories

Now, its time to take action. If youre like most busy parents just remember the questions and ask them often. Get your children to think and to feel wisely. By using these tools now and you will be building character in your child and a better society for us all.

Jean Tracy

Jean Tracy, MSS "Granny Jean" helps parents, teachers and counselors, raise awesome kids with solid characters. She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in education. She taught elementary school in Washington, California, and Connecticut.

Inspired by her desire to help the problem children in her classes, Jean returned to graduate school. She earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Upon returning to her home in Washington State, she worked as a probation officer and then developed a private counseling practice with families and children that spanned 22 years. During this time she earned a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

When asked how she developed her parenting books and products, she tells a unique story. "When I was an intern counselor in an old elementary school in Pennsylvania, I shared my office with the janitor under the stairwell. When the bell rang, the children's pounding footsteps drowned out every counseling session I ever had. The office itself had buckets, mops, and assorted cans lining the walls. The light bulb overhead swung back and forth casting creepy shadows everywhere. My counseling tools were broken down toys in a huge vinyl bag. Those toys never seemed a good way to counsel kids.

When I started my counseling practice, I looked for better skills to understand the kids I counseled. Over the years I developed fun ways to communicate with kids, to help parents help their own kids, and build character too. My unique parenting books and products are the result."

Jean Tracy, "Granny Jean" is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is also an award-winning Distinguished Toastmaster and professional speaker. Her presentations, include:

1. Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents 2. Discipline Styles, 3 to Lose and 1 to Choose 3. Family Meetings: This Special Formula Builds Character 4. Teach Your Child Success! 1 Simple Formula, 3 Easy Steps

Granny Jean's presentations are full of stories and interactive activities that will help you as parents, teachers, and counselors build solid character in your awesome children.

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