Good Character Must be Taught

Every parent wants their child to develop traits such as compassion, generosity and kindness, but just like math and reading skills, the traits associated with good character must be nurtured and developed over time. The earlier these softer skills are fostered in young children, the more likely they are to be successful in school and later in life.

Social and emotional development begins at birth, and the brain develops more rapidly during the first five years of life than at any other time. Cultivating character traits such as empathy, honesty and cooperation during this time is just as important as building the foundation for traditional skills like language and math. That’s why character development is an integral part of our exclusive Balanced Learning® curriculum at Primrose Schools.

“It’s our goal to build the foundation children need to develop a lifelong love of learning,” said Adela Taboada, Franchise Owner of Primrose School of Ashburn and the new Primrose School of Ashburn at Broadlands. “Nurturing good character is an important part of that mission. Character lessons are woven through our curriculum and daily classroom experiences to help children learn about character and apply specific character traits to authentic situations.”

Character development has been part of Primrose’s approach to learning since the company’s inception more than 30 years ago. Today, children learn about character through three key programs: Happy Hearts Character Development Program, Primrose Promise Giving Events and Life Skills. Lessons in these programs take the form of discussions, art projects, puppet play, games and role playing, all focused on developing character.

For example, the Primrose Friends puppets help teach children traits like responsibility, honesty, caring and cooperation. Libby the Lamb represents fairness and reminds children through class discussions, literature and role playing to listen carefully to others, take turns, share, and give everyone a chance to speak. Teachers also read books to children that convey important life lessons through relatable characters and story lines. Children are encouraged to think of real examples and make connections to their own lives.

In addition to classroom activities, Primrose provides hands-on learning experiences to help children develop character traits, like caring and generosity. Activities include collecting books for children in need, doing chores at home to raise money to purchase canned goods for local food banks, and collecting items for local animal shelters. This kind of experiential learning helps children learn first-hand the joy of giving back and helping others.

This year at Primrose School of Ashburn, children, after raising money at home, went on a shopping spree for food items that they then donated to Messiah’s Market community pantry. They learn to love being a good citizen and giving to others.

To learn more about the many benefits of enrolling your child at Primrose School of Ashburn, or the new Primrose School of Ashburn at Broadlands, please visit www.PrimroseAshburn.com, or call 703-724-9050.