Learning Lessons: Nurturing Good Character

Traits in Preschoolers

By Tanisha Turner

Parents want their children to develop character traits such as compassion, generosity, and kindness, but how do you get from point A to point B? Are preschoolers capable of learning and understanding these traits? And if so, how can parents and caregivers support their development?

According to the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, the early years of a child’s life lay the foundation for a wide range of important developmental outcomes, like self-confidence, mental health, and the motivation to learn. The earlier these softer skills are fostered in young children, the more likely they are to be successful in school and later in life. And while it may seem like your child is too young to grasp these concepts, the foundational behaviors needed to develop empathy and other social-emotional skills that make us good people are actually nurtured in the first years of life. Oftentimes the best way to teach young children about these intangible skills and traits is to provide hands-on learning opportunities and to reinforce the concepts in a variety of ways. Primrose Schools suggests the following tips for parents and caregivers to use at home:

• Build an understanding of different traits. Even at a young age, children begin to build their understanding of traits like generosity, respect, and gratitude. Read books such as I Can Share by Karen Katz (ages 2-5) and When I Care About Others by Cornelia Maude Spelman (ages 4-7) with your child and take the opportunity to discuss the positive traits that the characters possess. Ask questions and help your child apply the concepts in the book to real-life experiences.

• Introduce important life skills. Even very young children can begin to learn about essential life skills, such as manners, safety, and caring for the environment. Letting children take care of their plant will promote responsibility while teaching them the importance of caring for the world around them. Modeling these life skills is also a great way to introduce them, especially to younger children.

• Make time for hands-on learning. Children get most excited about giving back when they are able to experience it firsthand. Introduce your child to helping those in need by starting small in your commu-

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Insurance Matters: Covered Perils

By H. Darrell Watson

“Darrell, I need a new roof on my house.” “I need my HVAC replaced.” “Does my homeowner’s insurance pay for this?” Good question. I have people call me every week asking questions about their homeowner’s policy, and what said policy covers and does not cover.

Let me tell you what your homeowner’s policy does not cover. Homeowner policies do not cover the replacement of roofs or HVAC units if the cause of repair or replacement is normal wear and tear or a simple maintenance issue. If your roof has a twenty year shingle, and it starts to leak because it is twenty-three years old, the cause of the leak is normal wear and tear, so your homeowner’s policy will not pay for your roof replacement. If your HVAC unit is twenty years old and stops cooling your home because it has reached the end of its life, this is not an insurance issue, it is a maintenance issue. Does your auto insurance pay for oil changes, replacing a

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