In the spirit of inspiring our children to grow up and become smart, selfless, and confident individuals, here are a few reasons why character building is important to instil from a very young age, and some tips for you to impart good character in your child! Let us get started!
- Respectfulness comes from within
The first step to imparting good character in your child is to familiarise them with the concept of respect.
Begin by teaching your child to acknowledge and appreciate the help they receive from others. Saying the magic words like ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ is easy, but it is always good to remind your child that showing their appreciation is important! It will make a difference in your child’s attitude as they will become polite and respectful (even making people feel appreciated!)
Our best tip? Make it a habit to practise saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at home with them. Guide your child to emulate your positive behaviour as they look up to you!
2. But, never fail to be kind
The next step to effectively educate your child character building is to teach them the value of kindness. However, how should you go about it?
Teaching your child teamwork by demonstrating kindness through supporting and helping others would be a good place to start. Provide opportunities for your child to play and learn with others at playgrounds, kids’ cafés, or a preschool! They will learn to work together with their friends through fun and meaningful activities.
You can also play with your child during your days off with games that encourage you and your child to collaborate! Activities that require teamwork with your child will help them to understand that working together in harmony will get things done faster. Bonus: you are able to bond with your child whilst observing their progress!
As a result, your child will be kind, helpful, and will have fun working collaboratively with others!
3. Honesty — the best policy
Honesty shapes your child to become someone of great character, and the sooner you can instil the value in your child, the better. Here are ways you can inculcate honesty in them!
We often punish dishonesty severely, but instead of focusing on the negative, you can focus on praising honesty. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your child and reassure them that you will not be angry if they tell you the truth. Take your time to advise and explain to your child why dishonesty is frowned upon.
Compliment your child when they are being honest, because it requires bravery for your child to be open with you at a very young age. You can practise and model being honest and open with your child too!
By teaching them the value of honesty, you are teaching your child that they are accountable for their actions and words, and they will be mindful of them.
4. Confidence is the key
Every leader exudes confidence, and your child can too!
Give your child room to improve and be independent by urging them to overcome minor hurdles by themselves, with you guiding the way! This allows your child to gain confidence in their own abilities. They will also learn failure and success through their own trial and error, boosting their logical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Cheer for your child when they fail, and encourage them to try again until they succeed. When your child has accomplished their goal, give them compliments, and watch your child’s confidence grow. Tell your child ‘Good job!’ and give them a pat on the shoulder. You will need to be by their side as lifelong cheerleaders!
This way, your child will develop their confidence to try new things and view life in a positive light. A little inconvenience will not deter their spirit to achieve what they want, and they can achieve it independently!
Now that you know the benefits of character building, and how to impart the values in your child, go and nurture the spirit of good character in them!
Oh, parents! Before you click away, here is a final tip for you! Did you know that your child would be able to learn character building better when they are in a social setting? Real-life application is vital for your child’s character building education, and a welcoming and loving preschool environment is a great way to start.
Q-dees preschools offer a subject that is solely dedicated to character building. This comprehensive programme teaches your child the values of respect, compassion, independence, and more! Our preschools emphasise on your child’s academic growth, but we also help to shape the leaders of tomorrow!
Just as Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ‘The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of education.’
Q-dees accepts students all year long, so enrol your child at a Q-dees preschool near you now! Call 1700-81-5077, or click here, and secure your child’s future today!
Reference list
Teaching Children About Respect https://www.education.com/magazine/article/teaching-children-respect/
Teaching Your Kids to be Honest https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-is-contact-sport/201103/teaching-your-kids-be-honest
Developing Thinking Skills from 24-36 Months https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1290-developing-thinking-skills-from-24-36-months