Justice: raising kids who care

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away and not so different than what you and I call home, there was a parent; someone who spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to instill values, virtue and good character in their child.

That parent might be you. That parent is definitely me. But this is no fairy tale. Life is tough, and raising kids is hard work. I often find myself wondering how to help my child recognize right and wrong, develop empathy and choose kindness – especially when I’m not looking.

This dilemma has motivated my calling and that of my co-workers here at Antioch Church in Bend, Oregon. We have spent years researching and developing resources to help kids develop compassion, kindness and concern for others.

I want to raise kids who are in deliberate pursuit of the interests and welfare of others. Do you? If so, check out our “Favorite Four” below. These four free resources are either created by us or have become a favorite of ours. We’d love to share them with you!

Pursuing Justice

This book is a great read for adults, and is available at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. It also offers kid-friendly lessons and activities to help teach kids about the importance of justice and care for others.

Each chapter discussion provides answers to questions kids often have, and suggests an activity that will allow you and your family to put these ideas about justice into practice.

Kid Bios

The easiest way to develop empathy in kids is to stimulate their imagination. Kid Bios give children the opportunity to read true, age-appropriate stories about kids from around the world.

Each Kid Bio gives our young people the opportunity to imagine themselves in someone else’s situation and think through how they would feel in that child’s circumstance.

Each story also helps parents teach about other cultures and help their kids get involved and pray for different areas of the world.

Check out a Kid Bio sample below!

Family Activities

We love it when families have fun together, and it’s even better when that fun has a purpose. Our Family Activities feature fun games, craft projects, experiments and challenges for adults and kids to do together, and also provide a suggested conversation starter to make each activity purposeful in developing value and virtue.

Check out three Family Activities below. To learn about the other 150+ activities, visit www.justicekids.org.

Computer Games:

Screen time is a reality for many families, and we have found three games that challenge kids to use their computer skills to help others. What an awesome way to use technology for a great purpose! Check out FreeRice, Charitii, and Answer4Earth by clicking here.

Don’t you wish you had a Fairy Godmother to help your kids care for others, make wise choices, and share their belongings?

While we cannot guarantee that any of the above resources will provide a happily ever after, we hope these resources will help your family develop a strong sense of right and wrong and a deep care for others.

We’d also love to know what things have helped you instill character, values and virtues in your kids. Feel free to leave us a comment with your experiences or questions!