What we hold true in our lives is demonstrated by the everyday examples that we set in our lives. The "little things" are the big things when it comes to developing moral fiber in our children's lives. The way in which we respond to needs, the attitudes we take in accomplishing our chores, the tone of voice we use in answering questions are all essential in character education.

Virtues are objectively good human qualities; they have a claim on our personal and collective conscience. How do we share these with our children? Here are a few tips from the research:

Spend time together, learn to really listen, and talk through issues and how your family would deal with them. Show your children they are a priority in your life.

Talk about the things that are important to you. Take an example from a television or news article and ask your family "what would we do in our home if this happened?"

Model the actions you expect from your children. Respect is a cornerstone of good character. It is essential to value the individuality of our children and treat them the way we desire that they treat others. Look for words of character at school or other places in your community and the opportunity to explain what it means in your family. Raise a child with character, a child who will do the right things, and make the right choices in the journey of life.

Raising children By L Batra