1. EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN IN HUMAN VIRTUES
STD 3
EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN IN HUMAN VIRTUES
Help you understand how virtues are fostered
How we get rid of bad habits
Strathmore School
Tuesday 29th June 2017

2. How habits work Habits are stored in our brains
They follow a Habit Loop
A cue activates the action
A routine follows the cue.
A reward results from completing the action
Basal Ganglia: stores the habit
Frontal Cortex: regulates our actions
You can lose all your memory and still carry out basic functions as long as there are triggered by a cue
+ The 76 year old man + The gentleman who killed his wife
Virtues help us to act morally. They give us principles on which to act.
+ a soldier will be praised while a criminal will be punished

3. Character forming - Age 8-12
Simon Sinek Happiness Chemicals
Happiness Chemicals
Key Phrases
Example
Endorphins
No Pain
Late night working
Dopamine
One more
Setting and achieving milestones
Serotonin
Loyalty: allegiance
Making the other proud
Oxytocin
Intimacy and safety
Family time; one-on-one with boss

4. Out bad habits, in good habits
Get rid of the cue
Break the routine. Rehearse a new routine
Acquire a good habit to override the bad one
Develop the willpower muscle
Spoil the rod and build the child
Cure of Ars
Rehearse your reaction to negative comments
Instead of relaxing by watching television read a book or practice an instrument
Join a team, learn an instrument, join a skill development program. Make your bed
At home

5. Keystone Habits Developing daily routines Meditative Prayer
Planning out your days
Making your bed every morning
Tracking what you eat or spend
Having family dinners
Spend time with them now and they’ll spend time with you in teenage years.

6. Punishment Proximity to the bad behaviour It should be expected
Explain what is desirable
Be clear about what bad is. Messy?
It should involve some pain
It is best if it helps to remedy the consequences

8. Rewards – Age 8 -12 Acknowledge their effort Time off from chores
Camping in the backyard
Ordering pizza
Choosing a special breakfast
Eating out
Planning a day’s activities
Sleeping in a different place in the house
Taking a trip to the park
Selecting something special for dinner

9. Professor David Isaacs in Character Building
Briefly explain the three types of virtues

10. Character forming - Age 8-12
Generosity
Responsibility
Perseverance
Patience
Industriousness
Decision making
Moderate pleasure and pain
Temperance
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude

11. Character forming - Age 8-12
In these years children are able to take responsibility for their own character improvement.
They respond very well if encouraged to act from motives of charity towards a parent or one of their sisters or brothers.
Home atmosphere and family example continue to play a major role, consolidating the habits acquired in earlier years.
The value of a positive peer group becomes very noticeable also at this time

12. Educating in Virtue means
Giving Knowledge
Show them TRUTH, GOOD, BEAUTY
Facilitating Practice
Equip them with habits to obtain TRUTH, GOOD, BEAUTY …
Offering Strength
Motivate and encourage them to attain TRUTH, GOOD, BEAUTY …
This is a summary of how develop virtues beginning with habits.

13. St Josemaría Escrivá

14. Questions?
Thank you.