There is no rewind button on parenting, so be intentional when it comes to building your son’s character. Parents who raise good kids don’t do so by accident!

From Dr. Michele Borba - click here to read the article online.

1. Show, not tell my kids about moral behavior.

To teach kids good behaviors, you must show kids what the virtue looks like in action. Reduce the lectures. Increase the visuals. Kids also learn more by seeing an example in context not by hearing or reading about it.

2. Emphasize the impact of virtue.

Show the impact empathy (or respect, kindness, justice, etc). has on others so your child understands it’s important.

3. Expect moral behavior.

If you want your child to feel for others demand your child to feel for others.

4. Look for simple daily moments to expose your child to goodness.

Provide opportunities for your child to experience different perspectives and views.

5. Offer diversity.

Experiencing different perspectives help children able to empathize with others whose needs and views may differ from theirs.

6. Model moral behaviors.

Be sure your behaviors your kids watch are ones that you want them to copy.

7. Expect goodness, period!

If you want your child to act morally, then expect moral behaviors from her.

8. Have ongoing moral chats.

Talk about moral issues as they come up; so your child can hear your moral beliefs. Set unplugged sacred family times when everyone in the house is unplugged-such as during family meals, car rides or outings or activities and stick to them. Don’t relinquish your influence on your child’s moral development to digital devices. Kids don’t learn empathy, values or family memories by facing a screen.

9. Be explicit.

Plainly explain your concerns to your child, set standards, and then stick to them.

10. Acknowledge goodness.

Catch your child acting morally by describing what she did right and why you appreciate it.

11.Take a deep breath!

To teach kids self-control, you must show kids self-control, so be a living example of self-control.

12. Aim for internal motivation.

Refrain from always giving tangible rewards for your child’s efforts so she develops her own internal reward system.

13. Help child learn to manage frustrations and fears.

Your home is the best place for your child to learn how deal with stressful situations. Don’t rob him of the opportunity to learn how to handle frustrations.

14. Boost internal gratification.

Gradually stretch your child’s ability to control his impulses and learn to wait.

15. Be respectful.

Treat children respectfully so that they feel respected and are therefore more likely to treat others respectfully.

16. Make manners count!

Tune up your child’s social graces and make courtesy a priority in your home. Manners are the benchmark for respect.

17. Demand respect.

Do not tolerate any form of back talk or rudeness. Stop it before it spreads.

18.Monitor media diet.

Supervise your child’s media consumption closely. Set clear family standards, and then stick to them! Make sure you are your child’s primary influencer of values.

19. Pass on your values to significant others.

Explain your moral standards to the other adults in your child’s life so you can work together.

20. Surround your child with moral examples.

Make sure you are positive, affirming role model and surround your child with people of high character.

21. Step in and stop unkindness, ASAP!

Take an active stand against cruelty and just plain do not allow it

22. Don’t assume!

Take time to tell and show kids how to be kind (or fair, just, honest, patient, frugal…whatever the virtue you feel are –never assume they have that knowledge.

23. Stress service!

Kids don’t learn how to be kind from a textbook but from doing kind deeds.Encourage your child to lend a hand so he or she will understand the power of “doing good.”

24. Read books as a family!

Find books that are rich with moral dilemmas and ethical characters–like Anne Frank or The Letter from Birmingham Jail. Read and discuss them as a family. Fiction in particular (like To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies) is proven to boost empathy.

25. Teach virtue as a VERB not a noun.

The best way to teach kids any virtue is not through our lectures but through our example.

26. Be a moral example.

Become the living textbook of morality that you want your child to copy.

27. Stress WE not ME.

Teach your child from the time he is very young that no one is better than any other person.

28. Stop prejudice!

Refuse to allow discriminatory remarks of any kind in your presence.

29. Halt your biases.

Get in touch with your own prejudices and be willing to change them so your child won’t learn them from you.

30. Encourage cultural heritage.

Nurture in your child a sense of pride in her culture, heritage, and identity.

31. Provide early opportunities for diversity.

Expose your child early to games, literature, and toys that represent a wide range of multicultural groups to boost her or his appreciation and acceptance for differences.

32. Nurture tolerance.

Encourage your child to participate in activities, which promote diversity and nurture tolerance.

33. Stress fairness and justice.

If you want your child to be fair, expect your child to be fair.

34. Teach kids how to be fair.

The easiest way to increase fairness is by reinforcing fair behaviors.

35. Stress upstanding behaviors!

Encourage your child when he encounters unfair treatment to stand up for himself and the rights of others.

36. Find and work on an unjust cause.

Look for opportunities in your neighborhood or community and get involved together in making the world a better place. There is no more powerful way to boost kids’ moral intelligence than to get them personally involved in an issue of injustice and then encourage them to take a stand; they will learn that they can make a difference in the world.