Character Building – How playing school builds character in kids:
Playing school is a fun way for you to enjoy your kids and their friends. Sometimes they can be the teacher and sometimes you.
Consider using the following parenting tips:
Set up the teacher’s desk with a small box.
Put several discussion dilemmas in the box.
Hold a moral dilemma class.
Choose a student to pick out a dilemma.
Discuss the moral dilemma together.
Character Building – Here’s a moral dilemma to discuss:
You’ve been best friends with Jeff for three years. He’s not very popular. Some of the cool kids want to play with you but not with Jeff. When Jeff and you are around the popular kids, you put Jeff down.
Jeff tells you privately to stop it. You tell Jeff, it was just a joke and ask him, “Can’t you take a joke?” You don’t want to lose Jeff’s friendship, but you also want to hang out with the cool kids.
Character Building – Here’s some questions to further the discussion:
Is Jeff wrong to want you to stop putting him down? Why or why not?
If you were Jeff how would you feel?
How many ways can you solve your dilemma with Jeff and the popular kids?
Talk about a time when you were teased or put down. What happened and how did you feel?
Have you ever been dumped because you weren’t cool enough? If so what happened?
Character Building – Here’s some points to include in your play school discussion:
Teasing and put downs are cruel.
Being a loyal friend is important.
Treating others the way you want to be treated works well.
Learning to apologize when you hurt others is a valuable skill.
Staying friends over time doesn't always work.
Consider playing school at home with your kids and their friends. Playing school can be fun when you discuss moral dilemmas. Don’t be surprised if the kids want to discuss more dilemmas. It’s an easy way to guide your children’s values and you’ll be building character too.