Knight Training: Character Building with Children

It is often a challenge to teach our children good morals when there is so much around them preventing them to thrive on good decisions. Introducing them to these concepts while they are still young helps concrete these characteristics we would like all our children to learn.

 

 This week at the PODER After-School Program, our activities were revolved around "Knight Training."  Knight Training was a week long activity where each day the children would learn skills that would help build character. The topics were INTEGRITY, COURAGE, FAITH, PERSEVERANCE. After a short discussion, kid-friendly examples, and simple definitions of each word, we had a fun craft activities with knightly themes that the children could relate with each characteristic. Here was our Knight Training:

 

INTEGRITY

-doing the right thing even when no one is looking-

There was a discussion and examples on how we can show integrity daily. Examples such as not litter, following the rules even when your friends aren't, and doing what is expected of them even when there is not an adult in the room. The kids also came up with personal examples when they showed integrity. After the short lesson, we gave each child a castle cutout (from Hobby Lobby) with the word Integrity and definition symbolizing a fortitude of moral development. They wrote three examples of how they could show integrity and then they were able to decorate their castle!  

 

COURAGE

-being brave and strong when things are scary or hard-

Again a discussion and examples started the lesson. The kids gave examples such as standing up to bullying, riding a scary ride, and admitting a mistake. The kids were given a picture of a paper sword and they wrote down 3 examples of when to show courage. They were also given gauntlets (from Hobby Lobby) labeled and defining courage and they made "power bracelets"!

 

FAITH

-complete trust in someone or something-

This discussion and example revolved more in about believing in themselves and suggested if they believe in something higher or bigger than themselves that this would relate as well. We asked each child what they wanted to be when they grew up and how they needed faith to help push them to get to their jobs as teachers, cops, and a call to serve others. The kids were given shields made out of paper plates and yarn with the word faith and definition on them. We explained to them that we need to "shield" ourselves from the negative influences in life sometimes and faith helps us with that. They were able to decorate their shields and some even put symbols on what they believed in such as "Mom" and "God".

 

 

PERSEVERANCE

-keep trying even when you feel like giving up-

The last lesson was about continuing to fight even when things get really hard. After explain the definition, the children came up with examples such as studying for a really hard test and passing, riding a bike without training wheels, and showing their abilities even when people tried to stop them. The children then were given dragons to color to symbolize something that might seem scary at first, but if you keep trying and fighting, they will be able to conquer their fears. Dragon crafts can be found at The Crafty Crow and the dragon picture can be printed from Here .

 

 

Each child graduated and was awarded a candy crown for completing Knight Training! The crowns are made out of scrapbook paper, stapled, and taped with "jeweled" candies!