Teaching Compassion with a Free Character Planner

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
October 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Compassion is such an important character trait because it is something we all need in our lives. It is the emotional connection desired with those close to us and those we do not know very well. Teaching compassion to your kids is important as it doesn’t always come naturally.

 

Some children may naturally be loving and compassionate, while others may need some help in that area. This is especially true of toddlers who may think the whole world revolves around them! . Becoming compassionate brings us out of our me-focused world. It can help your children see that other people have needs and start to think about how they can meet those needs for others.

What is Compassion?

Compassion is is the ability to feel what another person is going through and to help them in their need. It is being able to listen, being aware and being sensitive of the needs of others. It is being able to sit back and observe and know when to help out when there is a need.

Compassion is caring for others, behaving towards them with concern and love and affection. It is being sympathetic to others needs, putting others before yourselves.

Teaching Compassion

Some people feel compassion more deeply and empathetically than others. You may notice this with your children if they see an animal that is hurt or lost, or a homeless person on the side of the road. Some children are immediately distressed and sad, while other children may not even recognize what is happening. We can teach and model compassion to our children to help them to be sensitive to the needs around them.

Here are some great ways to teach compassion to your kids:

  • Be kind, and model kindness to your children. Talk about kindness and reactions to others in your home.
  • Take your children out and serve together. Helping at a soup kitchen or a food pantry is a great way to show them that people are hungry and in need.
  • Teach compassion towards animals by helping animals that may be injured or lost or feeding animals that may be hungry.

Teach compassion to your children with this month’s free character study printable pack:

Our Character Counts planner teaches you how to plan a month long study on this month’s character trait of compassion. Families  love that our planners are open and go with many things to choose from to use. You can pick and choose what you would like to print and use for your family. Since they are not dated like our other planners, these can be used anytime in the year.

I keep all of our planners in a big binder. We now have a nice large collection of them as we download them each month. They are great to pull out if there is a specific character trait that you need to work on in your home.

Many families enjoy using these during morning time, or Bible time in their homeschool. These planners are designed to be simple and fun, with activities that your whole family can participate in together. This is great for family time with hands-on ideas and fun conversation starters. Yes, even parents can benefit too! 

This is what is included:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study on Character
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Compassion Printable Posters and Scripture Posters
  • Family Character Brainstorming Session Sheets
  • Compassion and Your Gifts
  • Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Certificate of Completion

The directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner are sent in each weekly ezine. The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email. If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE.

 

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FREE Character Counts: Enthusiasm Planner

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
May 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

When you think of the different character traits, enthusiasm doesn’t seem like one that you would normally need to work on with your children. Imagine if your children had a positive, happy, and joyful attitude for even simple every day tasks and school work. Do you know how that would change the entire feeling in your home? It would be an inviting place, and people would see a difference in your family and your life style.

Do your children need help being joyful and enthusiastic? This character planner will give you some great tips and printables to guides your children.

This month’s subscriber freebie is on the character trait of Enthusiasm.

When a child shows a lack of enthusiasm and grumbles and complains over tasks they are actually showing disrespect. This needs to be handled quickly or it can turn into more complaining and attitude problems that will be passed down to the rest of the family. It isn’t always easy, and doesn’t come naturally to some children but it can be taught through example.

This planner will give you the tools you need to teach your children to be enthusiastic and have a positive happy attitude. There are reflection sheets for you as the parent to journal about your children and to note their strengths and weaknesses. It well help you see how you can help them and encourage them in specific areas that they struggle with.

One great way to do this is by practicing in your own home. You can discuss how to encourage other family members and to try to be joyful. There are many examples, suggestions, worksheets and activities to help your children to think through their attitudes. It will give them ideas to be an encourager, and to be happy in all things. I really appreciate that there are scriptures to back up what is being taught, that we can show our children when they are struggling.

What is in this month’s planner?

The Character Counts planner helps you to easily plan out a 4-week study on the character trait of Enthusiasm.  Like always, the planning is done for you, which makes it completely open and go. It is also customizable, meaning you can pick and choose what you would like to use. The planners are not dated so that you can use them at any time. We like to print ours out and store them in a character training binder. You can easily access them and pull them out when you are dealing with a certain issue that needs to be focused on in your family. They are also a great addition to a morning Bible time. These are designed to be simple and fun, with activities for your entire family to participate in together.

Check out what’s inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study on Enthusiasm
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Create an Enthusiasm Poster
  • Enthusiasm and Positive Attitude Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Certificate of Completion

The directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner are sent in each weekly ezine. The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email. If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE.

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FREE Character Counts: Joyfulness Planner

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
December 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment

We have discussed this before, but everyone knows this year has been extremely rough. It sure can be hard to find joy in these tough situations. The stress and worries of the world, and an unknown future can rub off on our children and cause stress in the home. It is so important to teach our children about how to show joyfulness in all situations.

FREE Character Counts: Joyfulness Planner

It is hard to smile back at someone when they are crabby and scowling. But a simple smile can light up the face of a stranger, or a family member. Just the routine of smiling and laughing daily can bring joys to others.

Some of our children come about this trait rather naturally, while others may struggle with finding joy. Many of us can tend to worry and have anxiety. Those thoughts and anxiety can rob us of the joy that God so freely gives to us. If you have a child that tends more towards worry and stressing over situations then it is very helpful to teach them about being joyful.

It isn’t easy for us as parents either. All you have to do is turn on the news or social media and worry will start to seep in. This is when we need to turn our focus on God and the joy that He so freely gives us. Nehemiah 8:10 says “The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” God’s joy can bring us the strength we need to get through each day, month and year. It gives us the strength to continue on and parent our children with love and with joy.

This Character Counts planner is on the theme of Joyfulness.

If you struggle with being joyful or teaching your children how to be joyful you will enjoy this month’s subscriber freebie. It will give you tips and suggestions on how to practice joyfulness in your home. I love the practical ideas that Felice gives for us to do together as a family. Sometimes when things are hard it is difficult to think of what to do next, or how to tackle an attitude problem. Simple and practical ideas are always helpful!

What is in this month’s planner?

Our Character Counts planner will help you plan out a 4-week study on the character trait of joyfulness.  Our planners are open and go. This means that all the planning is done for you. They are also customizable. You are able to pick and choose what you would like to use within the planner printables. They are not dated so you can use them anytime of the year. I like to print ours out and store them in a character training binder. I create tabs for each character trait. Character training is a great addition to a family morning or Bible time in your homeschool. The activities are good for all ages in your family, including parents!

Check out what is inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study of Joyfulness
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Joyfulness and Your Gifts Journaling Sheets
  • Joyfulness Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Activity Sheets and Create a Joyfulness Poster
  • Joyfulness Goals Sheets
  • Joy Printable Motivation Posters
  • Certificate of Completion

The directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner are sent in each weekly ezine. The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email. If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE.

 

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FREE Character Counts Planner: Thriftiness

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
May 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Have you been enjoying the character planners each month? We personally use these during our morning time. The activities are fun and engaging and we enjoy doing them as a family. This month’s character theme is the character trait of thriftiness. This planner will be a huge help in teaching your children the character trait of thriftiness!

Character Trait of Thriftiness | Free Planner | #freeplanner #charactertraits #thriftiness #kidsplanner #kidscharacter

If you spend any time with homeschoolers on a regular basis, you will see that we are a pretty thrifty group. Many homeschoolers operate on a single family income so they have to be thrifty in order to maintain their lifestyle. Thriftiness can come naturally to some people, and it can be harder for others. If you have multiple children you will probably see this in each of their different personalities. Thriftiness is something that does need to be taught and is really an amazing life skill for our children to learn to emulate.

Teaching Thriftiness in Children:

We have grandparents that gift money to our children for birthdays and holidays. Or our children may earn money from odd jobs. I have one child who wants to go shopping and spend that money the day after she receives it. It literally burns a hole in her pocket and drives her crazy not being spent! Another child will save some for spending, and some for savings. Another child will save 100% of it for something expensive and special and will sit on that money for a long time. Much to the dismay of her spending sister.

My oldest child is now an adult and is very frugal with his money. He doesn’t mind spending money, but he always makes sure that he finds a good deal, or a coupon first. He always looks for gift card deals or cashback before making a purchase. His friends sometimes tease him for being “cheap”, but I am so proud of him. He definitely grew up helping me cut coupons and watched me search for the best deal before I purchased anything. It’s neat to see them grow up and “adult” with the life skills that we have trained them in our homes.

Teaching Thriftiness and budgeting vs. saving and spending is a great life skill to work on with your teens. This planner would be great to use as a one on one study with your teenagers and incorporate it into home-ec and a life skills elective credit too.

What’s in this month’s planner?

The Character Counts planner this month will help you to plan out a 4-week study on the character trait of thriftiness. It will help teach your children how to budget, and how to save money. As always, it comes with lots of practical applications. The planning is already done for you, which makes it completely open and go. There is also room for personalization to customize it for your children as well. Our character planners are not dated so that you can use them at any time.  We like to keep them all together in a character training binder. They would be great to pull out when you are dealing with a certain issue that needs to be focused on.

Check out what’s inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study Guide on Thriftiness
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Journaling Pages on Happiness and Money
  • Activity Sheets on being thrifty and your gifts
  • Spending vs. Saving and Budgeting Worksheets
  • Thriftiness Blueprint
  • Family Goals and Savings for Vacations
  • Family Activities and role-playing ideas that demonstrate Thriftiness
  • Certificate of Completion

The directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner are sent in each weekly ezine. The planner access information is always located at the bottom of each email. If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE.

Character Trait of Thriftiness | Free Planner | #freeplanner #charactertraits #thriftiness #kidsplanner #kidscharacter

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FREE Character Counts Forgiveness Character Planner

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Are you enjoying our character planners? My children have been looking forward to the new one each month. We use it in addition to our morning Bible time in our homeschool. These studies are great to do together as a family.

forgiveness character planner text overlay with forgive notebook image.

The character trait for this month’s planner is the trait of Forgiveness:

This four week long open and go character study planner will have your family studying Forgiveness vs. Unforgiveness. Forgiveness is not something we feel, it is a choice. It is something that can take a lot of practice. It may come easily to some children, and much harder for others. Forgiveness is a very important trait to teach our children, and imperative to a happy, healthy family.

When you are home with your children everyday, and the siblings are together 24/7, fights are bound to happen. It’s how your children handle the aftermath that is so important. Some children are quick to hug and kiss and say I’m sorry as soon as they know they have done wrong, or forgive when they have been wronged. Others, may be more easily offended and have a hard time shaking off something that has been done to them.

This month’s planner will help you plan out a 4 week study on choosing forgiveness. It will help you teach your kids how to practice forgiveness and how to ask for it correctly with lots of practical applications. My favorite part of these planners is that all the planning is done for you. It really is open and go, with lots of room for personalization!

Check out what is inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study Guide of Forgiveness vs. Unforgiveness
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Journaling Pages
  • Activity Sheets on the Character Trait
  • Printable Forgiveness Quotes and Verses
  • Forgiveness Blueprint
  • Family Goals
  • Certificate of Completion

These planners are not dated, so they can be used at any time. If you don’t have time to work on them each month, you can save them for later! These would be great to pull out when you are dealing with a certain issue that needs to be addressed or focused on.

Directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner will be sent to you each week in our weekly ezine. The planner access information will be located at the bottom of each email. If you are not signed up, you can sign up HERE.

 

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FREE Character Counts Decisiveness Character Planner

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

We hope you are enjoying the brand new Character Counts planners Felice has created as a bonus freebie for our subscribers. These are great to work on as a family in family Bible study time, or in the mornings during homeschool morning time.

superhero kid and parent with text overlay Character counts decisiveness character planner.

The character trait for this month’s planner is the trait of Decisiveness:

This four week open and go character study planner will have your family studying Decisiveness vs. Indecision and Confusion. Decisiveness is the ability to make a good decision based upon sound knowledge. It also includes making decisions with clarity and conviction. Children and even adults can struggle with making decisions and figuring out solutions to problems. Sometimes there is only one right answer, and other times there are many different options to choose from! It can be overwhelming and hard to decide what to do. This is an important life skill to teach our children and it can begin at a very young age, like choosing what color cup they want to drink out of.

This planner will help you and your children to practice being decisive and to learn how to make wise decisions. You can practice this by role-playing with your children and by creating a decision making road map together. This planner is wonderful because it is an open and go planner. All the hard work of planning what to teach is already done for you. It is a planner on how to teach the character trait, and a character study. It includes many worksheets for you and your children to work on together.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study Guide of Decisiveness vs. Indecision and Confusion
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Character Trait Planning Worksheets
  • Journaling Pages
  • Activity Sheets on the Character Trait
  • Decision Making Blue Prints
  • Family Goals
  • Certificate of Completion

Directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner will be sent to you in our weekly ezine. The planner access information will be located at the bottom of each email.

If you are not signed up as a subscriber yet, you can do that HERE. You will receive a new Character Counts Planner in your inbox every month!

 

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Brand New Character Counts Planner: Awareness

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
January 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment

We have some exciting things in store for our loyal listeners in this new decade. If you have been signed up as a subscriber with us, you may have noticed something brand new and different this month. Felice has created a new bonus subscriber freebie on character traits. There will be a new character trait theme each month and we are so excited to use these in our homeschool!

Why did we choose the theme of Character to focus on this year?

Well, character qualities are more than just a list of desirable attributes we want our children to have.  Good character opens the doors to good jobs, and the motivation to work hard and to do well. It is not easy to be consistent, however it is so worth it. Good character can be encouraged, practiced and demonstrated on a regular basis in your home. The best part of this character planner is that you can all build stronger character together as a family. It is said that character is caught not taught so there is a big responsibility as parents to demonstrate the character traits we want our children to copy. We all know how our children can very easily imitate our bad behaviors. So, we want to change that and have them imitate good behaviors from now on. That’s the entire goal of this new planner.

Why I am excited to use this new study:

I am personally excited about using this new planner because it will help give me a certain focus for our homeschool each month. Having a specific theme to work on for an entire month will help to solidify that character trait. If I don’t have a plan in place then I usually am not able to complete the extras that I want to do. Especially in a new year, I always have so many ideas of things I want to work on with my kids. One of those has been wanting to do character studies and extra Bible studies with my girls. It’s hard for me to be consistent with this. I know what I want to do, I just don’t know how to implement them successfully.

If the studies aren’t planned out I usually fail to complete them. What I love about this new planner is that all the hard work is done for you. It is literally open and go. It’s a planner for teaching the character trait but all the planning is done for you! So this is planner and a family character study all in one. All you have to do is print it out, read the encouraging introduction and get started. It is so easy and I can’t wait to incorporate it into our daily morning time and family devotions.

Each month we will providing a new Character Counts planner with a new theme to work on for that month. This month’s planner is all about the character quality of Awareness.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside:

  • Character Quality Family Checklist Worksheet
  • 4 Week Study Guide of Awareness
  • Analyze and Evaluation Sheets
  • Character Study Worksheets for Kids
  • Journaling Pages
  • Activity Sheets on the Character Trait
  • Family Goals
  • Certificate of Completion

Make sure to keep an eye out on our weekly ezine, where you will get directions on how to download your free Character Counts Planner. The planner access information will be located at the bottom of each email.

If you are not signed up as a subscriber yet, you can do that HERE. You will receive a new Character Counts Planner in your inbox each month!

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