What is Character Education?

Have you ever asked the question "what is character education" and wondered whether it is something that is important, or relevant to you? It can be described this way: "a deliberate and conscious effort to learn and develop virtues, and values, that are good for you and good for society." So yes, it is important. And, it's something to be aware of as you raise your children. Most people agree that academic achievement is important. But character development is equally important, if not more so. Even if a child doesn't do well academically, their character will still determine how well they do in life. Throughout the world there are many values that are common to all cultures. These virtues include: Upholding human dignity. Helping to promote the well-being of an individual, as well as society. Being clear to ourselves about our rights and obligations. Treating people in the way you would wish to be treated. Behaving in a way, in a given situation, in which you would wish all people to behave given the same set of circumstances. In other words, character education is about learning and building any or all of the following traits: Honesty Initiative Integrity Optimism Perseverance Respect Responsibility When someone describes another person, they do so by describing their character. That person's character is defined by a certain set of qualities, habits or attributes which they possess, and by which they are judged. Children naturally want their days to be filled with happiness, fun, and playfulness. Unfortunately, not all children achieve these wants and grow up having negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves and the world. The good news is that with the right training, these negative thoughts and beliefs can be changed and children can learn to develop positive beliefs about themselves. They can also start to experience feelings of optimism about their future and their life. This type of education gives kids a chance to grow up into happy, well-adjusted, well-rounded adults. They will be able to deal with everyday situations in a positive manner which is beneficial to themselves and those around them. There's no reason you should be embarrassed about character education. <=Click here to get the information you need to effectively teach your kids character. If you're ready to read more about how our book An Exercise in Happiness can help you with character education teachings, visit our character education page and download our free eBook The Ultimate Guide to Kid's Happiness. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now.