Has anyone heard of the Virtues Project?
I am exploring the Virtues (things like repect, tolerence, gentleness, peacefulness, generosity) in conjunction with how we teach our children to handle themselves in relation to the rest of the world, including family, etc, often. There is a non-denominational movement called the "Virtues Project" that encompasses 52 basic Virtues for Humanity and is being employed in 86 countries. Facilitators guide folks in using the Virtues in various aspects of life... the school, church, and home are not the only places, now... even some corporations use the models for training and team-building.
I recently began teaching in a pre-k through middle-school-age Virtues-Project Summer Day Camp. Wow. The principles I'm learning and the way they are immediately applicable to everyday parenting and conflicts is just AMAZING. I haven't been on for a couple months, and have only begun to really apply the Virtues Teaching, but this is just too good not to share.
Check out this link for the Five Basic Strategies used in the Virtues Project.
Ultimately, it's up to us how we apply the Virtues to parenting. There is a lot of material, ideas, suggestions, and guidence on the topic.
One of the practices we are using in Virtues Camp is a progression meant to manage conflicts in a group of children... and I find it works nicely one on one in the home or with mulitple children... siblings, etc. The Courtesy Corner (at our house it is the Listening Spot, or Meditation or Refelcetion Time) is a place away from the action, maybe with a couple of pillows, or something, meant for one having a problem (sometimes, at home, it's me...) using Virtues (or as we call them "the hidden gems within" or gifts of character) to find resolutions or handle conflicts. Upon observation that one is struggling to find an appropriate resolution to a conflict, the individual is guided to, recommended or instructed to spend some time away from the group or activity to reflect on the Virtue they were having a hard time with. For example, if a child is having a hard time with Gentlness (striking friends, or being too rough with toys, etc), then he or she would be given a book or some cards with pictures/writings on Gentleness. When the child believes he or she is ready to "use his or her Gentleness" then that child is cheerfully welcomed back.
When behaviors escallate as they sometimes do, we use a Courtesy Room, at our Camp, which is removed from the group or activity, where the teacher or a helper (or mom, at home, etc) has a one on one about the Virtues in question... using the Gentleness example again, here, the 'facilitator' would ask open-ended guiding questions about the conflict and the Virtue of Gentleness, enabling the child to arrive at some conclusions regarding his or her behavior and what Virtue we can use to resolve the conflict. At the Camp, there is a final step involving the Courtesy Walk, where a child is patiently escorted to a parent and the parent or helper (or parent is called) and this adult reflects with the child until an accord has been reached regarding the behavior and choices are made jointly about participation.
This is becoming a life-changing experience.
I welcome ANY questions or comments from folks who have anything to add on the topic of the Virtues Project and using the Virtues in parenting... We try to practice CL with our 3.5 yo, and sometimes that age can be very testing with CL... we use the Love and Logic modality too, which has some Virtues Project in it, or maybe it's Love and Logic in the Virtues...
I am finding this model works so well with so many of the approaches regularly discussed here! Sincerely, there are moments where I wonder how I thought I could approach CL, UP and GD without them in my regular language.
I am anxious to learn more and would love to have questions from others to guide my own exploration of this methodology.
I am exploring the Virtues (things like repect, tolerence, gentleness, peacefulness, generosity) in conjunction with how we teach our children to handle themselves in relation to the rest of the world, including family, etc, often. There is a non-denominational movement called the "Virtues Project" that encompasses 52 basic Virtues for Humanity and is being employed in 86 countries. Facilitators guide folks in using the Virtues in various aspects of life... the school, church, and home are not the only places, now... even some corporations use the models for training and team-building.
I recently began teaching in a pre-k through middle-school-age Virtues-Project Summer Day Camp. Wow. The principles I'm learning and the way they are immediately applicable to everyday parenting and conflicts is just AMAZING. I haven't been on for a couple months, and have only begun to really apply the Virtues Teaching, but this is just too good not to share.
Check out this link for the Five Basic Strategies used in the Virtues Project.
Quote:
| Virtues-The Gifts of Character: Love. Kindness. Justice. Service. The virtues are the very meaning and purpose of our lives. They are universally valued by people of all faiths and cultures. We seek ways to renew and deepen our connection with the values that give direction to our lives. We strive to mentor our children and to build safe and caring schools and communities. The mission of The Virtues Project is to provide empowering strategies that inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life. |
One of the practices we are using in Virtues Camp is a progression meant to manage conflicts in a group of children... and I find it works nicely one on one in the home or with mulitple children... siblings, etc. The Courtesy Corner (at our house it is the Listening Spot, or Meditation or Refelcetion Time) is a place away from the action, maybe with a couple of pillows, or something, meant for one having a problem (sometimes, at home, it's me...) using Virtues (or as we call them "the hidden gems within" or gifts of character) to find resolutions or handle conflicts. Upon observation that one is struggling to find an appropriate resolution to a conflict, the individual is guided to, recommended or instructed to spend some time away from the group or activity to reflect on the Virtue they were having a hard time with. For example, if a child is having a hard time with Gentlness (striking friends, or being too rough with toys, etc), then he or she would be given a book or some cards with pictures/writings on Gentleness. When the child believes he or she is ready to "use his or her Gentleness" then that child is cheerfully welcomed back.
When behaviors escallate as they sometimes do, we use a Courtesy Room, at our Camp, which is removed from the group or activity, where the teacher or a helper (or mom, at home, etc) has a one on one about the Virtues in question... using the Gentleness example again, here, the 'facilitator' would ask open-ended guiding questions about the conflict and the Virtue of Gentleness, enabling the child to arrive at some conclusions regarding his or her behavior and what Virtue we can use to resolve the conflict. At the Camp, there is a final step involving the Courtesy Walk, where a child is patiently escorted to a parent and the parent or helper (or parent is called) and this adult reflects with the child until an accord has been reached regarding the behavior and choices are made jointly about participation.
This is becoming a life-changing experience.
I welcome ANY questions or comments from folks who have anything to add on the topic of the Virtues Project and using the Virtues in parenting... We try to practice CL with our 3.5 yo, and sometimes that age can be very testing with CL... we use the Love and Logic modality too, which has some Virtues Project in it, or maybe it's Love and Logic in the Virtues...
I am finding this model works so well with so many of the approaches regularly discussed here! Sincerely, there are moments where I wonder how I thought I could approach CL, UP and GD without them in my regular language.I am anxious to learn more and would love to have questions from others to guide my own exploration of this methodology.
) is something we have been facing lately. I caught dd getting into my purse, pulling everything out, etc... pulling from the Faber-Mazlish 
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We are starting to lay the groundwork for it and it feels really good.
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