Each day in my role as Preschool Division Head at The Bear Creek School, I see parents who love their children and who are proactively working to come alongside their children’s learning. I see parents who are trying to do this whole parenting thing well. When our children were preschoolers, my husband and I realized that as much as we wanted them to have an excellent education, we also desired that they have strong character—virtues that would shape their hearts and guide their decisions throughout life. What could we do to help raise them with virtues like self-control, patience, kindness, and responsibility? Knowing that virtue, faith, and excellence are among The Bear Creek School’s specific core values was one reason we sought out the school, and today, I get to see these values shape our students daily, preparing them to thrive in school and life.
Character Development for the Preschool Age
Teaching character to young children is like teaching them to read. It is a process and a big task, but if you break it down to bite-size pieces of understanding, children will be able to apply it and put it into practice. At The Bear Creek School, we’ve found that focusing on just one character quality for at least a month really helps the concept “stick.” One of the virtues we teach to our preschool-age students is self-control. We point out other people using self-control, read stories about it, and practice it in a few ways.
We emphasize the definition of self-control: “I make myself do the right thing!” We talk about how children don’t need to wait for their mom, or dad, or teacher to tell them what to do—they can make the right choices on their own. We do this by acting out how we can show self-control when we really want a toy or treat, but our parents have asked us to wait.
At preschool, Beanie Babies or another special toy or object can help create a connection to a character quality. Using Sammy the Self-Control Seal, students learn how to “balance” their actions and emotions. Whenever the class demonstrates excellent self-control, like raising their hands at circle time, waiting patiently for their turn with a toy, or walking instead of running in the classroom, they get to add a paper ball to a poster of Sammy. Some parents replicate this at home using sticker charts or other visual reminders to reinforce and praise their child when they see them growing in the chosen virtue. As a class, students learn a memory verse from 2 Timothy 1:7 to present to their parents and families: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love, and self-control.”
The Bear Creek School
Character development is a process, and I love that the Bible reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). While that is not a promise, it is a principle, and we can trust that God is doing good things in the lives of these precious little ones with whom He has entrusted us! I encourage you to keep thinking about the character qualities you want to develop in your child.
CHARACTER RESOURCES
Here are some ideas for ways you can work on character development at home:
1. We Choose Virtues: This is a great program that we also use at school that has definitions of virtues and ideas on ways you can work on character training at home.
2. Games: Playing “Red Light, Green Light” with your preschooler is a fun way to practice self-control.
3. Books: Reading picture books that focus on the character quality of self-control can be very helpful. Some great options include:
- Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
- The Way I Act by Steve Metzger
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
- A Little SPOT of Patience: A Story About How to Enjoy Waiting by Diane Alber
- My Mouth Is a Volcano by Julia Cook
By integrating these resources and activities into your daily routine, you can help nurture and develop the character qualities you value in your child. Together, we can guide them to become individuals of strong character, ready to walk faithfully in God’s plan for their lives!
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Rachael Urban is Preschool Division Head at The Bear Creek School, a classical Christian preschool through high school in Redmond, WA. She is passionate about Jesus, learning, and children. She believes all children are made in the image of God and loves helping students know they are fully loved and known by their Creator. Rachael holds a B.A. Elementary Education at Pacific Lutheran University and an M.A. Education and Science at Nova Southeastern University.
