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What are the three most important Character Qualities you teach your children?

post #1 of 16
11/12/10 at 7:40am
Thread Starter 

I was watching a TLC 19 kids epidsode and the mom, Michelle, was speaking to a group of moms.  She said the most important character qualities she teacher her children are self-control, obedience and attentiveness.  It got me wondering what are most important for me.  I'm still thinking.  What do you think?

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post #2 of 16
11/12/10 at 7:42am

Generosity, Integrety, Curiosity.

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post #3 of 16
11/12/10 at 9:01am

Humor, kindness, respect, persistance (sorry more than 3)

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post #4 of 16
11/12/10 at 10:12am

Good question...

 

Honesty I think self-control, obedience and attentiveness are all the same thing... or they all stem out of the same quality that is self-control... you can't obey or be attentive with out self-control. It is important, but I think there are several other things that are just as important.

 

For us it is:

loving (others and God), self-control, to love learning

 

teachability/humility would be a close 4th for us

 

:-) 

 

 

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post #5 of 16
11/12/10 at 12:02pm

Really? "self-control, obedience and attentivenes"? Those are her top three? Wow. Self-control, okay sure. But obedience? I think limit testing. strong will, etc. are better qualities than obedience. Kids will be adulst some day you know! They need to know how to make wise decisions based on a strong value system -- not to just obey!

 

Anyway, mine would be

* freethinking

* strong values/standing up for what you believe in

* perserverence

 

"Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking" ~ Leo Tolstoy

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post #6 of 16
11/12/10 at 12:13pm

 

I'm with Alley Rae - she nailed ours smile.gif


Quote:
Originally Posted by AllyRae View Post

Generosity, Integrety, Curiosity.

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post #7 of 16
11/12/10 at 12:23pm

Great question

 

*To love God

*To love yourself

*To treat others kindly and stand up for yourself

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post #8 of 16
11/12/10 at 12:47pm

Interesting question!  I'll have to think for a moment...

 

-Curiosity

-Emotional awareness

-Kindness towards oneself & others

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post #9 of 16
11/12/10 at 1:34pm

Self love and respect

Honesty

Integrity

and I'm also throwing in humor

 

Edited to add - ohhhh curiosity too.  That's also incredibly important.

 

How can you just say 3?

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post #10 of 16
11/12/10 at 2:18pm

Hmm ... so hard to choose just three!

 

Empathy (that's always been my top one)

Curiosity

Integrity

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post #11 of 16
11/12/10 at 2:31pm

Honesty

Empathy

The ability to laugh at himself

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post #12 of 16
11/12/10 at 3:13pm

Critical Thinking (think for herself, not just accept what she is told by others)

Empathy

Resourcefulness

 

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post #13 of 16
11/13/10 at 6:29pm

Be nice

Be curious

be true

 

there are more, but if I had to choose three, those are the ones I would pick!

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post #14 of 16
11/14/10 at 11:36am

Well lets see... at 12 months i think this is what comes up mostly

 

helpful

playful

affectionate

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post #15 of 16
11/14/10 at 12:44pm

Hm.

 

I don't do "character qualities" I suppose, because for me, who you are is what you do.  It comes down to love, I suppose.

 

Though, I guess the question is specific.  I think it depends on the child's temperament.  There are a lot of important character traits, and we have to encourage our kids to cultivate their natural talents and strengthen their weaknesses.  So they would be different.  For DD1, her natural talents lie in generosity, humor, and persistence.  These are awesome.  Her weaknesses are patience, attentiveness, and envy (she can be very envious and jealous) so I would want to work on those.

 

DD2 is quite young, but I can already tell that patience doesn't run in our family... wonder why.  LOL.  She's very creative and curious but not very obedient.

 

What I'm trying to say is I don't like the way the question is framed.

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post #16 of 16
11/14/10 at 4:31pm
the first three that come to mind:
empathy
respect (for oneself and others)
tenacity
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