Developing Character Strengths in Children

Positive psychology studies how people can develop and use their strengths to lead them to a more fulfilling and happy life. This capstone project specifically focuses on identifying and developing character strengths in children. The project consists of the first two chapters of a parent handbook, and one completed children’s story that teaches the strength of optimism. The first chapter of the parent handbook provides an introduction to the field of positive psychology. The second chapter details the origins of the 6 virtues and 24 character strengths, how they are measured, and research on how to develop and build children’s strengths. It gives examples of how this research can be applied to everyday situations, and provides exercises, games, and activities for parents to share with their children. The second part of the project is a children’s story which is based on research on how optimism is developed in children. Hopefully this project will help both teachers and parents teach and instill values and strengths in young children. For adults unsure of how to even start teaching children character and values, the parent handbook will be a good starting point and help guide them through the process. Adults who are already teaching character strengths will find research detailing the importance of what they are doing and ways to extend and enhance the learning.