Positive Character Building in Children

Literature can be a powerful tool which can have a positive influence on children, developing and shaping their moral code. Generosity. Giving. Kindness. Caring. Empathy. These character traits are very important and should be taught to children. A simple approach to character building in children is through reading stories. Stories engage our imagination and allow us to identify with characters and assume their actions, which I call “positive character building.” For many families, instilling these positive character building traits by example is not difficult as children appear to have an innate drive to help others. As children grow older though, this behavior becomes much more subtle. That is why effective, positive character-building education is very important. However, it must go beyond simply reading character-building themed stories; parents should also discuss these character traits openly with their children. Children who engage in reflection, discussion and analysis are more likely to understand, build and apply these character traits in a positive way and nurture them to last a lifetime.

Caroline Pharand of Sudbury, Ontario, (a mother of two, a 10 and 12-year-old) has made it a priority in her life to teach her children effective, positive character traits like the ones mentioned above. Read below to find out how she does this.

“If there is two special activities that we especially love doing at home to teach our children effective positive character building, it’s reading a story that focuses on learning to live with love, empathy, kindness and gratitude, such as  the book “We're All Wonders” (suitable for young children) or “Wonder” (suitable for older children) both written by R.J. Palacio and then combining it with participating in the “Great Things Happen When You Read! Read-A-Thon” Program from Mind Growth Education. I like doing these two activities with my kids every year,” Caroline says. “As for the fundraising part of the special activity, we always take the time to research any charity or cause that would need our help and each of my children chooses which one they will be raising funds for. I always make sure I have an open educated discussion with my children to allow them to fully understand exactly why we are doing this, which is why books help start the conversation. We make sure that the charity or cause they choose will have a positive, transformative impact on a community, a group of individuals, or animals, etc. I love to see the joy in my children when they are doing something very specific for someone else like this. And it’s a pretty unique concept too! For every dollar my children raise, they need to read one minute using Mind Growth Education’s “Read Across Canada” reading log program”.

This unique concept is breaking down the barriers of the traditional “Read-A-Thon” fundraiser and empowering children to make their way through a virtual reading adventure to build skills to last a lifetime, such as the combination of perfecting their reading skills, their reading speed, their comprehension and even higher thinking level, along with the positive character building. For more information about Mind Growth Education’s “Great Things Happen When You Read! Read-A-Thon” Program, click on the following link: https://mindgrowtheducation.com/fundraising-program/.

In conclusion, sufficient exposure to books that help teach to live generously, kindly, empathetically and caringly, among many other positive character traits, will lead to the ability for children to become more resilient leaders, kinder teenagers/adults and/or empathetic individuals which will result in having a positive impact on their lives and everyone else's lives.  Families like the Pharands are just doing what they can to make this world a better place - one book and fundraiser at a time!

Below are my recommendations of some amazing books that teach character building in children:

1. My Friend Fred by Hiawyn Oram
2. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
3. A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
4. The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain
5. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton
6. The Gift Inside the Box by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant, illustrated by Diana Schoenbrun
7. Pass It On by Sophy Henn
8. One Smile by Cindy McKinley
9. Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
10. I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
11. Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
12. Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
13. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Isabelle Baril has two beautiful children, 8-year-old Ayla and 6-year-old Hudson. She has called a few places home across Canada including Quebec and Ontario but currently resides with her husband Devin in Parksville on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. She has held various roles in the education field but is currently raising her family and running her business, Mind Growth Education. Her educational achievements include graduating from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, with a Teaching Degree in Social Studies and Special Education and obtaining an undergraduate degree in Geography and French from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, which she also serves as a director on their Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. She has always had a strong passion for helping others, which led her to her teacher career and starting Mind Growth Education.