Psychologist offers tips for building character in children

Author of Raising Good Children offers 11 principles

Thomas Lickona poses for a photo with Gillian Roussy, an event organizer for
the Neeje Association, at an event sponsored by the association in Ottawa.
Debroah Gyapong / CCN.

The B.C. Catholic has a story by Deborah Gyapong about a development psychologist who gave Ottawa parents some tips on how to build character and virtue in their children:

“I am not a perfect parent,” said the grandfather of 10. “All of us blow our stacks and do things we regret.”

Our children do not need a perfect role model, only someone who is trying, he said, noting that it is good for them to see someone struggling, because the life of virtue is a life of struggle.

First, parents must make character development in their children a priority and stress the long view, Lickona said, stressing parents must know what virtues make up good character. He listed wisdom or good judgment, justice, fortitude or inner toughness, self-control, love (being willing to sacrifice for others,) a positive attitude, hard work, integrity (honesty with oneself), gratitude and humility (a desire to be a better person.) These virtues allow us to do our best work, forming performance character and allow us to be our best self, forming our moral character, he said.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.