Building Character for Success

SHARED FROM:

Star Special: Wednesday 17 July 2013

Building Character for Success in Life

Kolej Dika

 

            It is sad to see that now education has come to be all about grades.  Education should be about the development of the human personality.

Maudling of the wise men through the marriage of intelligence with goodness.

-Plato

            Many parents and teachers have lost sight of the goals of education.  The obsession with grades has claimed the lives of many children.  Children have lost their childhood and many have ended up on the psychiatrist’s couch.  Therefore it’s vital to return to the cornerstone of good education.

 

Stephen Covey emphasizes:

Success in life is dependent on character.

Character is made up of principles and values which give us direction, meaning and depth in life.

Character becomes our actions.

Inner values include integrity, honesty, courage, fairness, responsibility and generosity.

            If we make character the cornerstone of our children’s lives, only then they will experience true success and happiness.  Omission of character-building may result in the children being easily influenced by bad elements in society.  They may become intellectual giants but will remain morally, socially and emotionally dwarfed.

            Building children’s character should begin easily in childhood, as their personality is being formed.  To proceed to a higher level of personality, the children should be given the right learning experiences, guidance and training at an early age.

 

            Some of the things that we need to do in building the children’s character:

1.        Provide the right role model   

-           Children learn behavior and values through imitation and role-modeling

Where the wind blows that’s where the grass bends.

- Confucius

2.        Praise, encourage and reward

            -           to motivate them to repeat the good behavior

            -           habit will eventually turn into character

3.        Intellect as often as possible

            -           guidance should be provided in interactions

-           give children opportunity to make decision, to reason and to discuss viewpoints

-           teach children to distinguish right from wrong and to do that which is right

4.        Ensure interaction with peers.

            -           learns values faster and better in a diverse environment

            -           learn to share, care and take the viewpoints of their peers

5.        Provide opportunities to exercise good habits

            -           give children choices so that they learn to make decisions

-           subsequently, they will learn to be responsible, in independent and decisive

6.        Teach resilience and commitment

            -           need to stay strong and firm in their benefits

            In matters of principle, stand like a rock.

-Thomas Jefferson

7.        Instill care and concern for others

            -           teach children empathy

            -           teach them how to relate, share cooperate

-           give opportunities to show care and concern for others through love and respect

            -           teach them to recognize distress signals in others

            -           teach them to be aware of the needs of others