How to make your child’s character growth a top priority
November 4, 2011
my husband & 3 kids & our dog: a family who grew up on sports.
Character growth–helping your child face tough stuff and learn from it–is a top priority of good parenting.
As parents, we provide food, shelter, medical help–we even provide life insurance to care for them after we are gone. But how much of a priority do we place on helping them build character?
Now that my kids are 18,21, and 24, I see that so clearly. All three of them have strong characters; they are good people who love God and family, and I am deeply proud of each one.
But it didn’t come easy. Character growth comes through lots of pain and struggle and challenge. And for our family, that character growth came through sports.
I’ve begun working on my first book and as I’ve been reading over years of notes and memories, I am struck by the fact that my kids are who they are largely because of the struggles and challenges they’ve gone through in their sports. A lot of tears. A lot of questions. A lot of “I want to quit.” A lot of victories.
It is your job, as a parent, to be sure your child has plenty of character growth opportunities. It doesn’t have to be in sports. It can be in music, art, drama….anything that challenges your child. Get him involved in activities that do not always come easy. Encourage him to do something that takes him out of his comfort zone at times and forces him fight for success and rewards.
Don’t just let your kid settle for doing what is easy, doing what takes no effort. Let him be part of an activity that will test and stretch his character, and make him stronger.
You and your kid decide what that activity should be. Then dive in and together, you will both grow through the adventure.
From Kids in Sports | Character Building | JBM Thinks, post How to make your child’s character growth a top priority
Post Footer automatically generated by wp-posturl plugin for wordpress.
Email Janis using the Provided Contact Form
Follow JBMThinks on Facebook or Twitter
thanks for the chance!
lelanidenso@yahoo.es
Twitter: kirkmango
November 6, 2011 at 9:11 am
Great post and so very true. It is not the easy path that adds to our character it is the willingness to take the road less traveled that builds those foundations. Make no mistake, IT IS NOT EASY. However, the value will be in the “process,” that is where the rewards lie.
Yeah, it’s about the journey, not the end of the journey.
Twitter: chatzakity
November 8, 2011 at 1:33 pm
So true Janis. It’s easy to let them take the easier road!
It’s hard to watch them take the harder road too! So hard on parents!
There are some parents who always want to protect their kids. So as parents, they choose to make the world easy for them. However, this can totally help them to grow to be a better person. Rather, it can only make them too independent with others.
Look what Diana Stroe recently posted: Reiki Master Training