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Book Review InformationCharacter Education
by:
Brent Sitton
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character
traits. One way to supplement your child's character
education is to act as a filter for the movies and
television shows your child watches, and to review the books
your child reads.
The following categories are
modeled after "The Book of Virtues for Young People," an
excellent book for children in its own right, written by
William Bennett. Once
developing a info of character
education for your child, it's helpful to review each
children's book, television show, and flick for several
positive and negative examples of each of the ten virtues
outlined in "The Book of Virtues for Young People." The
stronger the message, the much it wish contribute to your
child's character education.
Following are several route
in which the virtues can manifest as character traits in
children's books, movies, and in television
shows:
Self-Discipline: A character discusses his
feelings of anger rather than impetuously
striking out. Or,
a character gets his chores done before he goes out to play.
Compassion: A character understands the pain or
suffering of a friend, and steps in to help, even as once
it
means she can't attend the party she was looking forward to.
Responsibility: A character admits it was his
baseball that poor the window, and offers to pay for a
replacement. Or, a character keeps her promise to babysit
her younger sister, even as tho'
she'd rather go to the
movies with her friends.
Friendship: A character
stands up for her friend in front of her peers, even as tho'
it's not popular. Or, a character befriends the class bully
in an effort to get him to change his ways.
Work: A
character approaches her job with a positive attitude, and
does her really better even as once
her boss is being unfair. Or, a
character does up a game to get through an unpleasant task,
and takes pride in her activity even as tho'
it goes unnoticed.
Courage: A character is afraid of the raging waters,
but takes the risk and dives in to save her family. Or, a
character stands up for what he believes in, even as tho'
it's unpopular.
Perseverance: A character continues
to strive to do the basketball team, even as tho'
he's a
foot shorter than the different players. Or, a family works
together to support their home, even as tho'
the father has lost
his job and the parent is ill.
Honesty: A character
admits to himself that he isn't trying his hardest. Or, a
character talks to an adult just about a friend in trouble, even as
though the friend wish get angry at her.
Loyalty: A
character sticks with his losing football team in the hope of
helping them become better, rather than change of integrity a winning
soccer team. Or, a character stays at her friend's side
during a serious health problem or hardship.
Faith: A
character reaches out to God to help him in his time of
need.
When evaluating character traits and virtues
in kids' books, movies, and television shows, as well look at
negative behavioral influences. Ideally, these influences
will be minimal. Consider, for example:
Violence:
Does the character hurt himself, another person, or an
animal through his words or actions, and does he act without
remorse?
Profanity: Makes the character use foul
language, sexual language, or take God's name in vain?
Nudity: Makes the movie, television show, or book
show or describe suggestive styles of dress or part
clothed or nude characters?
Sexual Content: Do the
characters engage in implicit or barefaced sexual behavior, or do
they engage in aberrant sexual behavior?
Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco: Do the characters use or abuse legal
or banned substances?
Scary Elements: Are the
scenarios delineate gratuitously frightening?
Negative Behaviors: Makes the character show
disrespect to his parents? Or, does he neglect his homework?
Or, does he frighten different children?
By evaluating
both the positive character traits and negative behaviors of
movies, television shows, and books, and selecting those
that reinforce the values and virtues that are important to
you, you'll go far in developing your child's character
education.
Just just about the Author
Brent
Sitton is the founder of DiscoveryJourney.com,
with Character based Children's Book Reviews. Reviews contain related, fun and educationalkid activity.
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