Caring
· Be kind
· Be compassionate
· Express gratitude
· Forgive others
· Help people in need
Working
with Children and Teens-
Youngsters who want to get Mom or Dad a gift without spending
money could make a book full of “caring coupons.” Think of caring acts that others
appreciate and list these acts on the coupons.
Examples: one dishwashing
job, yard work, extra house cleaning, keep TV/stereo off while others are
sleeping, a hug and a kiss.
Pen Pals
Have children become pen pals with a group of youngsters
in another country.
Role-playing Compassion
Ask children what compassion would look like if:
· Your dog was caught up in his
leash
· Someone was sad because her father
was sick and in the hospital
· Your mother seemed so tired
after work
· A friend was confused about what
a teacher said
Practicing
Caring 1
Caring implies action, not just
empty emotion. Caring people love,
help, give and are kind. They are
caretakers of people, pets, plants, possessions and even the planet. Caring people show their concern for
others in an active way.
· Show kindness and compassion for
others.
· Live by the Golden Rule.
· Think about what their
decisions, word or actions will do to other people.
· Put concern for others into
action.
Help your children learn to care for family members by
making “caring coupons.”
This is a great activity for young people of all ages because it
costs no money and still is a special way to show family members they
care. Have all family members think
of caring acts that others appreciate and list these acts on the
coupons. Examples: one dishwashing job, yard work, extra
house cleaning chores, keep TV/or loud music off while others are sleeping
or washing a car.
Practicing
Caring 2
Caring is at the heart of an ethical person’s
character. It’s a guideline
for how an ethical person relates to the world and its people. Make caring an action word, you can only
truly care if you do something for others.
A caring person is considerate, kind, compassionate and
generous. That person always takes
into account how decisions, words, and actions are going to affect other
people.
Exercise
This
month identify 2-3 people you think of as caring. Take a few minutes to interview each of
these people to find out what motivates them. Ask who inspired them and who their
heroes were when they were children and who they are now. After the interviews consider what you
have learned and decide if this information can help you be a more caring
person.
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4-H
Character Connections - Caring
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Caring
Caring people love, help, give and
are kind. They are caretakers of
people, pets, plants, possessions and even the planet. Caring people show their concerns for
others in active ways. They are:
·
Kind
·
Compassionate and show they care
·
Express gratitude
·
Forgive others
·
Help people in need
Infants,
Toddlers and Preschoolers
You are constantly teaching your
child something. When your infant
cries and you respond, you are teaching them about caring for
others. When they coo or smile and
you respond in a similar way, you are teaching about caring. As your infant grows and becomes a
toddler, she becomes interested in so many things around them, yet they
can also become frustrated because they want something and have trouble
expressing themselves. Using
simple language explains to your toddler that soft touches are better
than hitting or biting. Explain
that we are kind to our friends and family. You may find that you are repeating
yourself often, but one day, you will be surprised to notice that the
toddler has become a preschooler, is listening and knows how to act in a
kind manner toward others. There
are many ways to encourage your preschooler to be a caring person. Spend individual time with her each
day; get down on her level to talk or listen; tell her that you like what
she is doing; or read books about kindness and caring to her.
Thank
You Note Activity
Even little ones can tell someone “thank
you”. Help your child
decorate a piece of paper with crayons or paints – you might want
to add a footprint or hand print of your infant. Ask her what she would like to say to
that special person and then read back what you have written. Include your child in mailing the note.
School-Age
Help your school-age child understand caring
with the following activity.
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How I Can
Help Activity
Give him a piece of paper and
pencil or crayon and help him draw a gingerbread type figure on the
paper. Or have your child lie on a
large piece of paper and trace around them.
·
 Have him tell you five things he can do to help someone else. List those on the fingers
·
Have him tell you five
places he can go to help someone else. List those on the feet.
·
Have him draw a shirt
pocket on the figure and think of five things he can give to someone else
to show he cares. List those on the pocket.
Middle-School
and Teens
Saying
thank you to others for the kindness they show is important. It may not always be necessary to send
formal, written thank-you notes but it is a thoughtful gesture to thank
someone who has spent money, sent a gift or taken time to do something
special. Even though e-mail plays
a big part in our lives, the skill of hand-written notes is important for
young people to learn. Help your
child using the following as a guideline.
A
thank you note should include:
- Reason you are writing
the thank you note
- The occasion for the
recognition or gift
- Reference to the gift
- Why the gift is important
to you
Adapted
from materials written for US Army Child and Youth Services and USDA
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.
CHARACTER COUNTS! and the Six Pillars of
Character are service marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, a project
of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. www.charactercounts.org
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