Does Character Really Count? By Fern Weis, Parent + Family Recovery Coach

When I was a middle school teacher, “The 6 Pillars of Character” program was launched in schools across the country. There were wall hangings in the lunchroom, poster and creative writing contests, and a few “character ed’ activities sprinkled through the year.

The truth is that even with the best of intentions, this was a feel-good, surface-level program. Without daily focus on character at home and school, it wasn’t going to make much of a difference.

I admit I’m a bit of snob about this. When one of my children, as a teen, was in crisis, so were we. We had the good fortune to be part of a boarding school program that focused on family-based character education.

And while the school was college prep, part of a student’s grade included character development — a whopping 40%!  We parents had a parallel program to follow.

So, when I come down hard on “character ed” it’s because of this immersive experience.

Real character growth can take place anywhere, anytime, with the right nurturing. How parents, teachers, coaches, and others interact with children can make a world of difference.

What we say and do, don’t say and don’t do, matter greatly in our children’s emotional health and competence. Their success in all aspects of life depends on it.

Developing their character and their strengths must be at least as important as our attention to their achievements.

This is why I’m opening up three free Parent Transformation sessions — to give you the building blocks of building character. It’s never too early, or too late – to begin. Schedule your session HERE.  

Fern Weis | Parent + Family Recovery Coach

Fern Weis is a certified life coach who learned that caring and good intentions are not enough in parenting. In fact, they are often the problem! Fern supports parents of teens and young adults who are going through difficult situations, including addiction recovery. She helps parents release guilt, end enabling and confidently prepare their children to thrive through life's challenges. Her articles are featured in Thrive Global, Medium, Motherly, The Teen Mentor, and Bergen County Moms.

Learn more about coaching and classes at www.fernweis.com. And then download your free guide, "Five Powerful Steps to Get Your Teen to Talk." For information on Family Recovery programs, visit www.familyrecoverypartners.com.