A Blueprint for Raising Remarkable Children

Many parents place a strong emphasis on their kids' academic performance and extracurricular involvement, such as by making sure they study, do their homework, and arrive on time for soccer or dance practice. But far too frequently, we neglect to invest time and energy in fostering another aspect of a child's growth and development—one that is just as crucial, if not more so—that of being a decent person.

It might be simple to overlook how crucial it is to fight the messages of rapid pleasure, materialism, and selfishness that are prominent in our culture.

We can help direct our kids toward habits and behaviors that foster strong character characteristics like kindness, generosity, and empathy for others who are less fortunate or in need if we want to raise kids who are actually decent people.

Integrity, according to C.S. Lewis, is doing morally even when no one is looking. How can we teach our kids to be decent people who will act morally even when no one is watching and there may be no reward? Here are several ways parents may foster virtue in their children and aid in their development as decent people, despite the fact that there is no surefire recipe (if only!).

Fostering empathy in children

One of the most important characteristics of excellent individuals is emotional intelligence and empathy, or the capacity to put oneself in another person's shoes and take into account their feelings and views. According to studies, a high emotional quotient—that is, the capacity to comprehend one's own emotions as well as those of others—is a crucial element of success in life.

Encourage your child to express her feelings and let her know you care about them if you want to help them develop empathy. Ask her to consider how her buddy could be feeling when there is a disagreement with a friend. Then, model for her how to control her emotions and work constructively toward a solution.

Motivate them to Support Others

The truth is that many children quietly carry out good actions in the normal course of their lives, whether it's cheering up a buddy when he's down or helping out at a community center, despite the fact that tales of children participating in bullying and other negative conduct frequently make headlines.

Be sure to discuss the negative effects of negative behaviors like gossiping or bullying on both sides (both those who are being bullied and those who do the bullying) and why and how it hurts people as you encourage positive behaviors like doing something to make someone's day better (even something as simple as patting a friend on the shoulder when they're sad).

Educate People to Volunteer

The act of volunteering may mold your child's character, whether it's helping an elderly neighbor sweep the sidewalk or helping you load some canned foods into boxes for donation to family shelters. When children provide a hand to others, they develop empathy for people who are less fortunate than themselves and gain self-confidence from changing the lives of others.

Provide incentives sparingly

When teaching children to assist others, it's vital to keep in mind that you shouldn't praise them for each and every kind deed they perform. By doing this, your child will learn that feeling good about helping others will be a reward in and of itself and won't equate volunteering with obtaining stuff for himself.

That's not to suggest you shouldn't periodically reward your kid to something special or give them a present for both working hard and doing their homework.

Children thrive on parental approbation and want to be encouraged. Giving him a gift now and again is a fantastic way to express your gratitude for all he does right.

Instill Good Manners in Them

Do you make sure your kids often use polite expressions like "please" and "thank you"? Does she treat individuals with respect and use "Mr." and "Ms." while addressing older persons? Does she know the right way to greet guests and what the fundamentals of excellent table manners are? Is she a polite loser?