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tory
One important way parents can help their children learn
respect for others, self-control, or other aspects of
responsibility is through the use of fables or stories. You can
read to your child, you can read with your child, and you can
encourage your child to read on his own.
What you'll need.
Good stories, either from books such as those listed in the
back of this book or from your own experiences
What to do.
1. Turn off the TV or other distractions.
2. Find stories that exemplify important aspects of character
and that your child might enjoy.
3. Talk to your child about the behavior of different
characters in the story. Ask your child how some of the
behavior might apply to your own lives.
4. Share some stories or books that you have found meaningful
with your child. (It is important for your child to see
you reading and enjoying stories as well.)
5. Come up with your own stories. These can be family
stories, such as baby stories (when your child was
little...) that can become a part of your child's personal
history.
Stories can be good ways to learn important lessons. Your
child can identify with characters in meaningful situations
without your having to lecture.
Parents and the Schools
Parents need to work with teachers and other parents to
ensure that children are brought up well. An African proverb
says, "It takes an entire village to raise one child." It is
important for parents and other adults to cooperate in order to
have common goals for them. Close communication is essential.
Parents can visit with teachers to discuss ways they and
the school can reinforce the same lessons about good character.
Children are less likely to do much homework, for example, if
parents let them watch television for hours.
Parents can learn from teachers what their children are
studying and what interests them. A teacher or school librarian
can provide good ideas for activities to do at home.
Parents can cooperate with each other, too. They can agree
on standards of supervision at parties and on entertainment.
Some parents may be free to escort children to museums,
libraries, athletic events, and extracurricular school
activities, when others are not. Taking turns can provide
better opportunities for all the children.
Bibliography
Introduction
Reading to and reading with children can help them learn
responsible behavior. Finding good books, however, requires
time and thought. Librarians and teachers can offer valuable
assistance.
This section is divided into three lists: Beginning (ages
1-6); Intermediate (ages 6-9); and Advanced (ages 9 and up).
The age levels overlap and are only rough guides. Please note
that some entries have annotations identifying specific habits
of character such as courage, self-control, and responsibility.
Art and music also can enrich the lives of parents and
children. Parents and children can enjoy the illustrations in
many of the books listed here. They can find inspiration in the
music on carefully chosen records, tapes, and CDs. Audio
recordings of the spoken word also can fascinate children and
include many dramatic readings, fairy tales, and even whimsy.
Magazines, encyclopedias, and a few movies are recommended as
well. Films can supplement lessons about responsibility found
in the many books listed below.
Beginning Ages
Aladdin. Retold by Andrew Lang. Illustrated by Errol Le Cain.
New York: Puffin, 1983. [Courage]
All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African-American
Spirituals. Selected and illustrated by Ashley Bryan. New York:
Atheneum, 1991.
Andersen, Hans Christian. The Emperor's New Clothes.
Illustrated by Anne Rockwell. New York: HarperCollins, 1982.
[Honesty]
Atwater, Richard & Florence. Mr. Popper's Penguins. Illustrated
by Robert L
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