By Angelique Reisch Of Tiny Values
You know that frantic search we all do to find the perfect add-on to our curriculum? I've been there, done that, and have the gray hairs to show for it.
We sign our kiddos up for sports to teach discipline, art classes to spark creativity, and music lessons because, who doesn’t want a little Mozart in the making?
But here’s the thing: what if we’re missing something just as important? I'm talking about teaching values like kindness, gratitude, and resilience. The kind of learning that turns our sweet babies into strong, thoughtful humans who’ll knock the world's socks off!
Now, I'm not saying ditch the violin lessons. But what if we made teaching values more directly a consistent part of our homeschool routine? Imagine if we spent a fraction of the time and energy we do on traditional extracurricular activities teaching them:
• To have the courage to stand up for what they believe in
• To be resilient when life knocks them down
• To practice gratitude for all things.
We'll raise happy, strong children who will thrive in today's world!
So, read on as I share some fun, easy ways to incorporate character education into your homeschool days. Are you ready to raise some world-changers? Let’s dive in!
Here's a list of 12 values every child should learn and practice:
1. Kindness
2. Gratitude
3. Self-control
4. Empathy
5. Love
6. Independence
7. Resilience
8. Courage
9. Imagination
10. Friendship
11. Confidence
12. Patience
You can start teaching these values as young as four years old. Don't believe a four-year-old can learn resilience? Think again! Our kiddos can understand complex ideas at a very young age when we use a very simple formula to teach them values. It's all about stories, thoughtful questions, and hands-on projects.
Stories + Thoughtful Questions + Hands-on Projects = Values Learning
Let's break it all down.
Step 1: Storytime Magic
Start each value lesson with a story that brings the concept to life. Stories are a powerful way of speaking to children at their level. They identify with the characters, and with the right books, they can learn how to approach difficult situations with grace.
Why are stories so powerful for teaching values? It's called "neural coupling," and it refers to the way our brains make us feel like we're experiencing what the characters feel in a story. Kids aren't just hearing about kindness or bravery; they're experiencing it right alongside the hero of the tale. This deep, emotional connection helps those big, abstract values stick in a way that no lecture ever could.
Stories are like little life rehearsals. When our little ones read about a character facing a challenge, their brains file that away for future reference. So the next time they face a tough situation in real life, their brains have a blueprint to work from. Pretty amazing, right? It's like we're equipping them with a superpower on how to handle difficult situations in life!
For the younger crew, start with picture books and point out when characters are kind, courageous, or patient. For older children, try chapter books, biographies, or even inspiring news articles.
Step 2: Chat It Up
After the story, it's time to get those little minds working. Ask questions that encourage them to think deeper about the value. Try something like this:
• "How did the character show [the value]?
• "Can you think of a time when you've seen or shown this value in real life?"
• "How might things have turned out differently if the character hadn't practiced this value?"
• "What makes it challenging to live out this value sometimes?"
Step 3: Hands-On Fun
Now comes the part where we cement the value – through a fun, hands-on project. This is where they get a chance to practice the value, taking it from introducing an idea to turning it into a habit. Values are skills that have to be practiced just like reading, writing, and arithmetic!
Putting It All Together
Let's take the value of confidence and explore how we can teach that in our homeschool. First, go out and find a book about confidence you think would resonate with your child. Read the book and use the script above in Step 2 to ask thoughtful questions about the story.
Next, choose something about that book you could build a project around. A great project to instill confidence in your child is to get them to make a craft out of a list of things that are hard that they've already done. For example, learning to read, ride a bike, or even walk! These are all things that seemed hard at the time but have now become second nature. Remind them that future goals will get more challenging, but they've done hard things before and they can do them again!
Hang their project in their room as a consistent reminder of how far they’ve come in life already and how they can do hard things in the future. Point it out anytime they doubt themselves or their abilities.
Making It a Regular Thing (Without Losing Your Mind)
To keep the values train chugging along, try these tips:
1. Schedule regular "values time": Maybe it's "Wise Wednesday" or "Character-Building Friday" – make it a special part of your week.
2. Create a values-based reward system: Catch your kids being awesome and celebrate it!
3. Sneak values into other subjects: History, literature, and current events are goldmines for value-rich discussions.
4. Follow their interests: If your kid is obsessed with dinosaurs, find ways to connect values to prehistoric times. "How do you think T-Rex could have shown more empathy?"
Remember, teaching values is a marathon, not a sprint. The beautiful thing is, as we guide our kids in these values, we grow right alongside them. You'll start to notice something wonderful happening in your home as you all work together to learn and practice values.
So here's to raising kids with big hearts, strong characters, and the tools to navigate this wild world – one story, thoughtful conversation, and fun project at a time!
