The Family Virtues Guide: Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best in Our Children and Ourselves

by Linda Kavelin Popov, Dan Popov, John Kavelin

Overview

Bring compassion, generosity, and kindness into your home with this essential interfaith parenting guide to raising kids in a virtuous and spiritual household, with week-by-week strategies for living your best lives.
 
The most important job parents have is to pass basic virtues on to their children, and this invaluable book is designed to help make that job a little easier. Compiled by The Virtues Project, an international organization dedicated to inspiring spiritual growth in young and old alike, this multicultural, interfaith handbook shows parents and teachers how to turn words into actions and ideals into realities.

Drawn from the world’s religions, the 52 virtues included here—one for each week of the year—nurture togetherness in family life. The simple strategies, which explain what a virtue is, how to practice it, and signs of success, will engage children of all ages in an exciting process of growth and discovery. This important book shows you how to:
 
• Learn the language of integrity and self-esteem
• Understand the five roles parents play
• Discover ways to introduce sacred time into family life
• Help children make moral choices
 
The Family Virtues Guide gives adults and children the tools for spiritual and moral growth. Join the thousands of families discovering simple practices for bringing out the best in each other by sharing The Family Virtues Guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780452278103
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/01/1997
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.24(h) x 0.88(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Linda Kavelin Popov is the author of The Family Virtues Guide and is one of the founders and directors of the Virtues Project International. She travels around the world in support of the project’s initiatives, speaking to communities, businesses, and governmental organizations. The United Nations Secretariat has honored the Virtues Project as a model for global reform for people of all cultures.

Table of Contents

The Family Virtues GuidePreface
Introduction: How to Use The Family Virtues Guide
Chapter 1. Who Are Our Children, Really?
The Spiritual Nature of Children
The Longing for Mastery and Meaning
What Kids Are
What Kids Are Not
The Oppositis Trap
The "Chip Off the Old Block" Syndrome
Isn't Love Enough?

Chapter 2. What's a Parent to Do?
Parenting Principles and Practices in the Virtues Project

Parent as Educator
Strategy 1. Recognize Teachable Moments
From Shaming to Naming
Use Virtues, Not Labels
Change Enabling to Empowering
Avoid the Abuse of Guilt
What If Your Child Does Something Really Terrible?
Be a Teacher, Not a Preacher

Strategy 2. Speak the Language of the Virtues
Tap the Power of Language to Shape Culture
Tap the Power of Language to Transform
Use Virtues to Acknowledge
Use Virtues to Correct
Name the Act, Not the Actor
Be Specific and Accurate

Parent as Authority
Strategy 3. Set Clear Boundaries
An Educative Model of Authority
Give Children R&R: Routines and Rituals
Ten Guidelines for Establishing Family Ground Rules
Give Choices Within Boundaries
Set Boundaries When Virtues Are Violated
Set Boundaries to Prepare Children for New Situations
Four Principles of Discipline

Parent as Guide
Strategy 4. Honor the Spirit
Share Your Skills
Share Your Family Stories
Create Routines of Reverence
Mark Special Times with Special Rituals
What About God?

Parent as Counselor
Strategy 5. Offer the Art of Spiritual Companioning
What About Feelings?
Help Children to Make Moral Choices
Open the Door
Offer Receptive Silence
Ask Cup-Emptying Questions
Focus on Sensory Cues
Ask Virtues-Reflection Questions
Ask Closure and Integration Questions
Offer Virtues Acknowledgments

Chapter 3. How To Apply the Virtues Family Guide in Your Family
Introducing the Virtues Project to Your Children
Suggestions for Getting Started
Set a Time to Meet
Open with Something Simple and Reverent
Describe the Family Virtues Guide
Choose a Virtue to Practice This Week
Practice Moderation
How to Hold a Family Virtues Meeting
Balance Creativity and Order
A Sample Agenda
Keep It Positive
Keep It Simple and Sacred
Practice Reverence with a Sharing Circle
Apply Creativity and Joyfulness
Review the New Virtue of the Week
Create Peacefulness with a Closing Ritual
Act with Tact

Virtues: The Gifts Within
Assertiveness
Caring
Cleanliness
Compassion
Confidence
Consideration
Courage
Courtesy
Creativity
Detachment
Determination
Enthusiasm
Excellence
Faithfulness
Flexibility
Forgiveness
Friendliness
Generosity
Gentleness
Helpfulness
Honesty
Honor
Humility
Idealism
Joyfulness
Justice
Kindness
Love
Loyalty
Mercy
Moderation
Modesty
Obedience
Orderliness
Patience
Peacefulness
Prayerfulness
Purposefulness
Reliability
Respect
Responsibility
Reverence
Self-discipline
Service
Steadfastness
Tact
Thankfulness
Tolerance
Trust
Trustworthiness
Truthfulness
Unity

Scriptural References

Bibliography
Appendix A. Discussion Exercises
Discussion Exercise 1: Oppositis - "It Doesn't Matter."
Discussion Exercise 2: From Shaming to Naming
Discussion Exercise 3: Recognize Teachable Moments
Discussion Exercise 4: Ready or Not
Discussion Exercise 5: Virtues Acknowledgments
Discussion Exercise 6: Virtues Corrections
Discussion Exercise 7: The Power of Consistency
Discussion Exercise 8: What Difference Can a Ground Rule Make?
Discussion Exercise 9: Give Choices within Boundaries
Discussion Exercise 10: What's Wrong with This Picture?
Discussion Exercise 11: A Family Values History
Discussion Exercise 12: A Confidence History
Discussion Exercise 13: Spiritual Companioning with Children

Appendix B. The Dos and Dont's of Bringing Out the Best in Our Children and Ourselves
Appendix C. How to Make a Virtues Tree Felt Board
Appendix D. Programs and Materials of the Virtues Project; World Wide Web Site
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Family Virtues Guide

“An important book for teachers and those who work with children. It teaches the importance of developing moral character.”—St. Petersburg Times

“Emphasizes family virtues—those things that are valued by all faiths and cultures in the world, such as love, loyalty and courage.”—Newsday

From the Publisher