How can you help your child make friends?
Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. I remember this from when I was a Girl Scout. That was in elementary school where I met one of my best friends who she and I are still best buds today. How do children make friends and build lasting friendships? […]
Teach your kids healthy habits at the Nashville Wellness Fest
Bring in good behavior with Behavior Bear, learn good manners with Manners Monkey and build self-esteem with Self-Esteem elephant into the conversation with Characters of Character. Join us on May 7th at the Nashville Wellness Fest from 10:30-11:15 at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Characters of Character creator Joni Downey will share some tips and tricks to […]
Mindfulness in kids: The power of choice
Choice is the most powerful tool we have. Everything boils down to choice. We exist in a field of infinite possibilities. Every choice we make shuts an infinite number of doors and opens an infinite number of doors. At any point, we can change the direction of our lives by a simple choice. It is […]
Building confidence in children
Why is building confidence in children important? Building confidence at an early age could make children feel better about themselves. Think about yourself – when you lack confidence how do you feel? You can be depressed, lazy, and settle for mediocre. Now, think about how you feel when your confidence is high – how do […]
Why kids should get involved in Holiday activities
One of my favorite phrases is “Involve Me” as time goes so quickly when raising a child. I miss those days! And, while there is stress in every chapter of life, it’s truly up to us to choose our battles. I choose to be happy, to find the joy and the positive in any given […]
What does ‘thankful’ mean to a child?
November seems to be the month of Gratitude, we tend to stop to count our blessings, and share what makes us thankful. To be thankful is to be pleased and relieved. It’s an emotion, a feeling. To be grateful is to show an appreciation of kindness, it’s an action. Both makes one feel good. During […]
Parents: What’s in your reflection?
When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Are you the person you want to be? Please remember, your reflection shows up in all you say and do, and believe it or not, your children and others are watching you! I think we all know the old cliche, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t […]
Tennessee’s Children’s Hospital Project
Characters of Character is an organization with a mission is to provide a firm foundation for children to establish strong civic values. This initiative also donates resources and activity boxes to children’s hospitals across the country, including right here in Tennessee. Joni Downey, the founder of Characters of Character, explains more: Why donations are more […]
How to encourage children to behave while wearing a mask
For children, the act of wearing a mask (and seeing others wear them) can be daunting. Joni Downey, the founder of Characters of Character, utilizes her Behavior Bear character to share some tips and advice. This is an important message from Behavior Bear! I just want to let you know, I wear my mask wherever […]
How can you teach your child self-esteem?
Self-Esteem Elephant is one of nine Characters developed by Joni Downey, founder of Characters of Character NFP, Inc. The biggest message that Self-Esteem Elephant shares is, “I like ME!” – the perfect message for children to internalize at an early age. Why is building confidence in children important? Building confidence at an early age has […]
How to teach children responsibility
Who is responsible for your actions or your behavior? You are. No matter if you’re a toddler, youth, tween, or an adult. You are the one who is responsible for what you say, what you do, your thoughts, and your actions. I recently took a great adventure with a dear friend who said to me, […]
Please use polite words, children are listening
When you stop to think of your daily language, you probably don’t think twice. Should you have healthy habits and use polite language, well then, you have nothing to worry about. However, if your children are younger (ours are adults) beware that they hear every word that comes out of your mouth! Please use polite […]
