Teaching Our Kids Character Habits That Last a Lifetime (Part 3)
Our childen excel when we help them learn character habits at home and school. My first two blog posts discussed effective perserverance, leadership, empathy, bravery, and ethical skill development. Below are strategies parents and teachers can use to help childen learn how to become accountable, respectful, provide service to their families and communities.
Accountability: Own Your Choices
Accountability means taking responsibility for your words and actions. Kids who practice this habit learn that mistakes are okay—when we own them and grow from them.
Encourage accountability by:
- Letting natural consequences happen when appropriate
- Helping your child reflect on poor choices without shame
- Using phrases like “What do you need to do to make it right?”
Try this: After a challenging moment, ask, “What would you do differently next time?”
Books to share:
David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon: David learns to take responsibility for his actions. Short and humorous but opens the door for honest conversations.
The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey: A quiet, reflective story about a boy who honors his daily responsibility. Subtle but powerful.
Respect: Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated
Respect is foundational. It means valuing yourself, others, and your environment. It starts with kindness and expands to how we speak, listen, and act.
Build respect by:
- Setting clear expectations around language and behavior
- Demonstrating respect in your own relationships (even when you disagree!)
- Talking about the importance of caring for things—home, school, nature
Try this: Ask, “What’s one way you showed respect today?”
Book to share:
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold: A beautifully illustrated book that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and respect in a school community.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell: Molly Lou respects herself despite being different—and earns others’ respect by staying true to who she is.
Service: Help Others from the Heart
Service is about giving—not to get something back, but to make the world better. Children who serve become more aware of their role in a community and how they can contribute.
Foster service by:
- Volunteering as a family, even in small ways (like helping a neighbor)
- Encouraging random acts of kindness
- Celebrating efforts that come from the heart, not for a reward
Try this: Create a “kindness jar” and fill it with acts of service your child notices or does each week.
Books to share:
The Lion and the Little Red Bird by Elisa Kleven: A sweet story about kindness and care through quiet actions and gentle observation.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña: CJ and his grandmother ride the bus through the city, serving others and finding beauty and purpose in unexpected places. A modern classic about service and community.
Growing Good Humans
The habits of character give children a roadmap—not just to succeed, but to lead, care, and thrive. This framework helps families make these habits come to life, day after day.
You don’t have to be perfect to raise children of character. You just need to be intentional. Every bedtime talk, every moment of reflection, and every story you share builds something lasting.
Because in the end, we’re not just helping our kids become good students. We’re helping them become good people.
Alison Whiteley has been a special education teacher for over 15 years, spending most of her time working with elementary students and families. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Psychology, she continued her education with a Masters in Reading from Walden University. In addition, she has achieved endorsements supporting Early Childhood Special Education and Diverse Learners which she uses to help identify needs across all learners.
Ms. Whiteley is trained in Wilson Reading System and Yoshimoto Orton-Gillingham. She believes all students can learn to read and be successful. She has served as a Special Education Coach and Mentor to fellow specialists and teachers, facilitated the creation of her elementary school’s Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (RTI/MTSS) process and helped parents through the Special Education process as IEP Coach for parents. In 2013 she completed the National Boards of Professional Teaching in Exceptional Needs with recertification in 2022. Her areas of expertise involve working with students with learning disabilities, supporting stakeholders moving through the special education process, and helping parents and teachers understand what they can do to support struggling learners in the public school settings.
She is a founding member of the Colorado Reading League and a member of the International Dyslexia Association in Colorado. Alison has two greyhounds and two nephews who keep her busy outside of school. She is the CEO of Toad-ally Exceptional Learners at http://www.toad-allyexceptionallearners.com. Alison is a valuable source of information to support teachers and parents, although she is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice. Her services support families through the IEP process and how they can be an equal member of the team through positive interactions. She focuses on collaboration and using tools to take IEPs to the new level of helping students achieve.