A Childs Book of
Character Building

Laying the Foundation

A childs book of character building is a critically important learning resource for a child, because a child is a pure entity. Her mind is entirely clean, ready to pick up whatever comes from the surrounding environment. The old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out," is fully applicable here.

Hence, the need for a child's character building book becomes even more imperative. Building a child's character is, of course, the primary resposibility of the parents. Next in the responsibility chain comes educators; they are also intrinsic to molding the character of a child. On a broader perspective, neighbors, community leaders, health care professionals, and the criminal justice system also affect a child's character growth.

The necessary ingredients of a child's book of character building are: compassion, courtesy, co-operation, responsibility, fairness, tolerance, self-control, courage, knowledge, citizenship, perseverance, helpfulness, honesty, and respectfulness (towards self, others, authority, property and environment).

A Childs Book of Character Building Can Help Educators

It is an established fact that a child learns best through stories, poems, myths, and fables. Therefore, a children's books should be written in these styles, and also have good graphics and some humor to attract and hold the attention of kids. Such books will help educators, who face the challenge of teaching students personal and social responsibilities, as well as building respect for themselves and others.

Educators have a further responsibility to promote standards of morality that will help their students determine the difference between right and wrong. They not only help students understand the importance of good character, but also help them to commit themselves to, and act upon, these essential virtues. Thus, a child's book of character building is a definite asset for educators hoping to lay a foundation of good character in their students.

Many character building books include lively, diverse, enriching and fun exercises through which kids can practice problem solving, decision-making, goal setting, divergent thinking, tolerance, patience and communication. Through such books, a child can learn to appreciate himself and care about others in concrete and meaningful ways.

Also available are books for developing emotional intelligence in children, instilling basic virtues, exploring their interests and abilities, understanding their motives and uniqueness. These books teach young people to make sound moral judgments and encourage all adults in helping youth develop positive character traits.

Whether the reader is a parent, teacher, or caregiver, a childs book of character building can help children to lay the foundation of self-worth upon which character and integrity are built.

It is rightly said, "man is known by the company he keeps and the books he reads." The healthy contents found in a childs book of character building definitely go a long way in building the characters of children and society.