Children need more than academic skills to thrive. They also need to develop strong character traits that help them navigate life’s challenges, build positive relationships, and make thoughtful decisions. Research has shown that character education is associated with improved academic performance, stronger behavioral outcomes, reduced behavioral issues, and builds resilience that lasts a lifetime (Jeynes et al., 2019).
The Charity for Change program teaches nine core character traits that help elementary school-aged children develop the confidence, empathy, and life skills needed for success. Three of those traits – self-control, tolerance, and responsibility – play an important role in helping children become caring, capable, and engaged members of their communities.
Self-Control: Supporting Every Area of Life
Self-control means controlling your feelings and actions. For children, self-control is an essential skill that helps them manage their emotions, make decisions, and respond appropriately during challenging situations.
Whether they are frustrated by a difficult assignment, upset during a disagreement, or disappointed by an outcome, self-control helps children pause, think, and choose positive responses instead of reacting impulsively.
Why Self-Control Matters
Self-control supports emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and academic success. Research has found that children with stronger self-regulation skills are more likely to demonstrate empathy and concern for others, while also being better equipped to manage emotions, resist negative impulses, and make responsible decisions (Eisenberg et al., 2007).
The benefits of teaching self-control include:
- Better decision-making skills
- Stronger friendships and social relationships
- Reduced behavioral challenges
- Greater confidence and resilience in handling difficult situations
Teaching self-control is an investment in a child’s future because it provides tools they can use throughout their lives.
Simple Ways to Teach Self-Control
Families and educators can help children develop self-control through consistent practice and encouragement. Some effective strategies include:
- Teaching children to count to 10 or practice deep breathing exercises when they feel upset or frustrated
- Allowing children to walk away from stressful situations to regain their composure
- Encouraging active listening to better understand another’s feelings, while also calmly expressing their own feelings.
- Reminding children that asking a trusted adult for help is a positive and responsible choice
As children practice these skills, they learn that they have the ability to manage their emotions and make sound choices. Developing self-control helps children strengthen the emotional regulation skills that support positive social interactions and long-term personal growth (Eisenberg et al., 2007).
Tolerance: Building Understanding and Respect
Tolerance means understanding and accepting people’s differences. As children interact with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, tolerance helps them develop empathy, respect, and appreciation for others.
Learning tolerance at an early age encourages children to recognize that differences are valuable and that everyone deserves kindness, understanding, and respect.
Why Tolerance Matters
Tolerance helps children build stronger relationships and create more welcoming communities. It also teaches them to see the world through different perspectives and develop greater empathy for others. Research suggests that children’s ability to understand another person’s intentions and point of view plays an important role in moral reasoning and social interactions (Killen et al., 2011).
The benefits of tolerance include:
- Greater empathy and compassion
- Reduced bullying and conflict
- Improved communication skills
- Better collaboration and teamwork
Children who learn to practice tolerance are better prepared to thrive in an increasingly diverse world and contribute positively to their communities.
Simple Ways to Teach Tolerance
We can help children practice tolerance through meaningful conversations and activities. Some ideas include:
- Discussing family traditions and learning about traditions from other families
- Having children draw pictures or write stories that demonstrate what acceptance or understanding mean to them
- Exploring ways their friends can be both similar and different, while appreciating each other’s unique qualities
- Participating in community service activities that expose children to different people and experiences
As children develop the ability to consider others’ perspectives, they become better equipped to respond with empathy and fairness (Killen et al., 2011).
Responsibility: Being Dependable and Accountable
Responsibility means doing what is expected of you and accepting the consequences of your actions. It is a skill that develops over time through practice, guidance, and positive examples.
Responsibility includes both being a good citizen who contributes positively to others and taking accountability for personal choices and actions. Together, these qualities help children become dependable, trustworthy, and self-reliant individuals.
Why Responsibility Matters
Responsibility helps children build confidence, independence, and accountability. It also teaches them that their actions affect not only themselves but also the people around them. Research has found that character strengths related to responsibility, such as self-control and resilience, are positively associated with academic performance and overall personal well-being (Lounsbury et al., 2009).
The benefits of responsibility include:
- Improved organizational skills and academic performance
- Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
- Stronger decision-making skills
- Increased independence and self-reliance
When children learn responsibility, they begin to understand that they are capable of achieving their goals and making meaningful contributions to their households, classrooms, relationships, and futures.
Simple Ways to Teach Responsibility
Families and educators can help children develop a sense of responsibility through hands-on activities and everyday opportunities to contribute. Simple ideas include:
- Helping children set and work toward age-appropriate goals
- Using role-playing activities to discuss choices, accountability, and consequences
- Involving children in household chores, classroom organization, or caring for pets or plants
- Participating in extracurricular activities that require commitment and follow-through
These activities help children develop the healthy habits and life skills that build responsibility.
Helping Children Build Character for Life
Through character education, service learning, and engagement activities, Charity for Change helps children put these lessons into practice. By teaching essential traits like self-control, tolerance, and responsibility, the program empowers students to develop the skills and tools they need to thrive in school and throughout life.
When children learn that their actions matter and that they can make a positive difference in the lives of others, they are building a foundation for their future.
See how the Charity for Change program can be integrated into any learning environment by scheduling a free 15-minute demo.
Resources:
Eisenberg, N., et al. (2007). The Relations of Effortful Control and Impulsivity to Children’s Sympathy: A Longitudinal Study. Cognitive Development (Volume 22, Issue 4). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2151749/
Jeynes, W. H., et al. (2019). A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Character Education and Student Achievement and Behavioral Outcomes. Education and Urban Society (Volume 51, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1177/0013124517747681
Killen, M., et al. (2011). The Accidental Transgressor: Morally-Relevant Theory of Mind. Cognition (Volume 119, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2011.01.006
Lounsbury, J. W., et al. (20090). An Investigation of Character Strengths in Relation to the Academic Success of College Students. Individual Differences Research (Volume 7, Issue 1). https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=O-RxjPIAAAAJ&citation_for_view=O-RxjPIAAAAJ:QIV2ME_5wuYC
