The ‘Virtues in Us’™ character education program, developed by The Children’s Virtues Development Project, is a set of programs and curricula for the systematic development of character in young children.? Since its first creation in 2003, it has? been implemented in kindergartens and primary schools with positive results.? The children have developed a deep understanding of the virtues and delight in showing qualities such as responsibility, gentleness, peacefulness and unity.? This has also encouraged their family members to practice the virtues at home and in their businesses.?The objective of the program is to assist parents and educators to raise children who will strive for excellence in all things and will be of service to their families and the world of humanity.

Key Elements
‘Virtues in Us’™ character education program has two key elements: the virtues material and the virtues facilitator. These elements are both important and necessary. The interaction of children with these two elements leads to their awareness of their human reality and motivates them to realize their true potential as a unique and valuable human being.

1.The Virtues Material
The resource material for the ‘Virtues in Us’™ program is designed with the recognition that character education is the foundation of all education. ?The lessons, activities and exercises aim to first develop consciousness of human virtues such as unity, service, responsibility and truthfulness. It then inspires in the child the desire to practice these virtues in service to humanity. .
The key features of the virtues material are outlined below:

• Systematic, with a clear vision of the concepts, skills and language that need to be developed in the children for each virtue.
• Age specific, designed appropriately for early childhood education (ages 3-9).
• Engaging and audio visual, designed to address different types of learning styles in children (e.g. auditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile).
• Fun and interesting, including songs, games and interactive activities tailored to the needs of early childhood.
• Helpful in developing or enhancing children’s English language ability.

2.The Facilitator/Educator

The educator plays an important role in all educational endeavors. When the aim is the education of the child’s character and inspiring the practice of such human qualities as gentleness and kindness, the educator’s qualities and skills become even more critical.

The Virtues in Us Character Education Facilitators all participate in intensive training conducted by foreign and Chinese trainers.? The trained ?facilitators conduct daily ‘Virtues in Us’? sessions for the children at their respective schools, and act as a valuable resource for staff and parents on matters of character education.

The combination of the two key elements of systematically designed material and carefully trained facilitators? not only enables the schools to train the character of the children, it also initiates the process of transformation in the families leading to more responsible and enlightened communities.

Content of The ‘Virtues in Us’™? Character Education Program
The Virtues in Us Character Education Program is designed to be integrated into any school or home setting. It offers 19 lesson plans, based on 19 age appropriate virtues, to be presented to the children over the course of the school year. These 19 virtues are:
1. Cleanliness 2. Courtesy 3. Gentleness? 4. Responsibility? 5. Truthfulness? 6. Helpfulness? 7. Unity? 8. Patience? 9. Obedience? 10. Joyfulness? 11. Generosity? 12. Kindness? 13. Courage? 14. Peacefulness? 15. Love? 16. Friendliness 17. Thankfulness 18. Compassion? 19. Service.

Each virtue is taught in 10 lessons over a two-week period allowing for continual and gradual unfolding of moral capabilities in children. ?

As stories are a very important part of education at early childhood years, the 'Virtues in Us' materials offer more than 250 virtues related stories. All daily lessons include one or more specifically created or selected short story that demonstrates the application of the virtue and its effect on people. This inspires the children to practice the virtue in their own lives and provides them with a language tool to describe their learning of the virtue to others.

Language of Instruction

In Chinese schools, the main concepts of the lessons are taught? in Chinese to ensure comprehension. However, all lessons include English language content to assist children to improve their English. They can learn important English phrases, and beautiful virtues based English quotations and songs.?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who has founded the ‘Virtues in Us’™??program?
The ‘Virtues in Us’™ ?Program has been designed and developed by The Children’s Virtues Development Project (CVDP), ?a service oriented organization dedicated to development of virtues in young children.

2. Where has the program been created?
The program has been designed in Beijing, China. However, in its creation, The Children’s Virtues Development Project has drawn on the expertise of a broad team of educators, character education experts, musicians, artists and writers from China, Canada, Australia, the United States, and other countries.

3. For whom has the program been created?
The ‘Virtues in Us’™ program?has been designed for children of all cultures aged 3 to9 years. As virtues are universal and common among all human beings, the designed material is fully applicable for character education worldwide regardless of nationality, gender, race or religion.

4. How does a school implement The ‘Virtues in Us’ ?character education program?
Interested schools are invited to contact The Children’s Virtues Development Project office to set up an initial meeting with The ‘Virtues in Us’™ ?program director to discuss their goals and requirements.? They are also invited to send their teachers to the ‘Virtues in Us’™ ?Facilitator Training Workshop conducted regularly throughout the year.? ?