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 (May work) (May work) (May work) (May work) (May work) 3.95 (May work) from 8 votes (250 Visits)

Parenting Skills – How to Arrange Character Building Parties

JeanTracy by JeanTracy Talking Back(April 2007) (rank 42nd)
Radio Shock Jocks and Rappers say unspeakable things that bring the culture down. What can you do to protect your kids and build their characters up?  Why not arrange neighborhood character building parties for your kids and their friends? These parties will light up any rainy afternoon and get kids thinking too.

Research tells us to use moral dilemmas for building character in kids. When children hear peers give good answers, it influences their character to grow. Now you can encourage your kids and their friends by arranging fun parties with moral dilemmas. Here’s how:

Parenting advice for character building parties:

  • Ask parents for permission for their kids to attend.
  • Buy cookie dough and paper plates.
  • Hide a moral dilemma under each plate.
  • Bake the cookies and bring in the kids.

Parenting Skills – Helping kids enjoy moral dilemma discussions:

 While the cookies melt in their mouths, tell the kids to look under their plates for a special dilemma. Ask each kid to read, listen, and discuss their dilemma with the group. Don’t be surprised when they smile, laugh, and give great answers.

 Parenting Advice - Consider using this moral dilemma at the party:

Eddie wants to make extra money for a special scooter. He goes from door to door asking the neighbors if they will hire him to weed and cut their grass. He is charging $8.00 an hour.

 You see that Eddie is making good money. You want to make good money too. So you knock on the same doors and ask if you can weed and cut their grass for $6.00 an hour.

Parenting Skills – Here are some questions to prompt the discussion:

  • Is being competitive OK if you steal someon else's idea? Why or why not?
  • How could you be a friendly competitor with Eddie?
  • How many different solutions to this dilemma can you think of?

 Parenting Skills – Ideas for helping the kids think more deeply:

  • Competition is normal but there can be problems.
  • Stealing ideas from competitors could create enemies and give you a bad name.
  • You could offer to help the neighbors by doing different jobs like cleaning the garage and washing windows.
  • You and Eddie could decide to go into business together, charge the same amount, and share your profits.

After each child has presented their dilemma for discussion, praise them for their good ideas. If you do, they’ll enjoy sharing their opinions. They’ll love hearing their peers appreciate their ideas too. What’s more, the kids will be supporting each other to think with character.

Don’t be surprised if the children beg for another character building party. Why not consider arranging such parties often? You’ll be discouraging the influence of the shock jocks and rappers. You’ll be lifting the children’s minds and you’ll be increasing character in your neighborhood too. Here’s to your character building success!

 

If you liked these parenting tips, pick up our Free Parenting Tips - 21 of the Best at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com

Subscribe to our Free Parenting Newsletter at www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with their kids.

If your looking for dilemmas for your character building parties, treat yourself to our Dilemma Discussion Kit with its 51 dilemmas to share with the kids. 

parenting skills, parenting advice, character, character building, building character, moral dilemmas, kids

 

 

 

 

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JeanTracy
August 2007 | JeanTracy
Re: Parenting Skills – How to Arrange Character Building Parties

Dear Libby,

Opps! Your comment slipped by me a while ago. I want to compliment you on your concern for safety for your girl guides.

My purpose in creating discussion dilemmas is to get kids thinking about moral issues. I use them with kids and love to hear how they think. I especially love it when they say, "You won't like this, but I think..." This gives me the information I need to probe some more without arguing. If they can think about the issue from more than one angle, I believe it increases their thinking power and broadens their minds.

Again, thank you Libby. I appreciate the good work you are doing.

Warmly,

Jean



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LibbyS
August 2007 | LibbyS
Re: Parenting Skills – How to Arrange Character Building Parties

Thanks for the great article, it's something I already do.

I use similar activities with my girl guides. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to work very well with about 7 - 13 year olds. It has been my experience that they say what they think you want to hear. However, with younger and older kids, teenages and young adults it works well.

With my older teenage guides I use more urgent type scenarios. Examples are

- You are on the train home at night and there is a man in the carriage who is looking you up and down and making you feel uncomfortable. What do you do?

- You are driving home from work at night and someone signals you from the side of the road. It appears their car has beoken down and you'd like to help, but you feel uncomfortable stopping. What do you do?

I have found that talking through these and many other senarios with my older girls (16 - 20 year olds) gets them (and me) considering the situation and thinking through options before the situation - or a similar one - arises.



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johnmorr
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2007 | johnmorr
Character Building
Adversity build character, and a discussion of moral dilemas sounds like a wonderful way to explore adversity to the way we think. And I totally agree with you as far as taking opportunity to praise sound ideas. If we can start developing a desire for positive rewards in our children, then perhaps the draw towards rewards through negative behavior (peer approval and the illusion of being cool) could be lessened. Wonderful bit of advice!


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      JeanTracy
April 2007 | JeanTracy
Character Building

Hi John Morr,

Thanks for the positive feedback. Let me know if you are able to use this advice and how it turned out.

Warmly,

Jean



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