THE VIRTUE CORNER

The Virtues Project Gifts of Character

In November 2003, five staff members of Hand in Hand Child Care Society attended a two-day Virtues Workshop. When we left the workshop, we felt empowered and invigorated by what we learnt and were eager to start using the tools with the children in our programs.

Linda Kavelin Popov founded the Virtues Project in 1991 with her husband and brother. The purpose of The Virtues Project is to help develop a culture of character where respect, patience, self discipline, tolerance and joy for learning are among the virtues our children master. They are over 300 virtues today, however The Virtues Project concentrates on 52 virtues from Assertiveness to Unity.

We focus on one virtue every two to four weeks depending on what virtue it is. We usually begin by introduce the virtue to the group during a carpet meeting. We explain what the virtue means, what it looks like and we ask them Virtue Reflection Questions. We carry on the virtue throughout our program by playing virtue activities and by staff recognizing the virtues in the children by giving them virtue rewards throughout the month.

Virtues:

The Gift of Character