Character Lab
Character Lab: Imagine That: How Reading a Book Can Make You a Better Person
This blog explains how reading and empathy are related.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Great Expectations: Ask for What You Want
This author cites an example from her own life that proves why communicating exactly what you want is so important in all aspects of life.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Emotional Intelligence: A Beginner's Guide to Feelings
How are you feeling today? Recognizing your emotions is critical to emotional development. Emotional intelligence can be learned, practiced, and improved. This blog offers tips for educators and parents on modeling and teaching emotional...
Character Lab
Character Lab: Bragging Backfires: The Hidden Costs of Self Promotion
Take a pause and think the next time you are tempted to brag. Research shows that unfortunately, we fail to accurately assess the cost of self-promotion. This blog discusses the pitfalls of bragging.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Social Intelligence
This article discusses the importance of social intelligence and how to encourage it in others.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Lost in Translation: The Art and Science of Communication
Communication isn't just the transmission of information. It's also sending and receiving emotions. This article discusses why human interaction cannot be left solely to a keyboard.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Think It, Do It: Developing an Implementation Mindset
Think it, do it. This is the mantra of David Fajgenbaum who almost died of an immune disorder. This blog explains why the comma in his mantra is so important, and how it can help us act upon decisions.
Character Lab
Character Lab: The Secret: Permission to Feel
Don't assume that the young people in your life are fine. Don't assume that what you see is all there is to know. This blog describes an encounter that a young boy had that helped him feel "seen" and understood by adults. Listening is...
Character Lab
Character Lab: The Power of Proactivity: You Are Someone
Taking action is what turns well-meaning bystanders into inspiring heroes. Here are four questions about the character strength of proactivity for you and the young people in your lives to reflect on-how many are true today?
Character Lab
Character Lab: The Soul of Empathy: Getting, Not Taking, Perspective
We have all learned how to imagine how someone else is feeling - empathy. However, maybe there is a better way to "walk in someone else's shoes". This blog explains why we shouldn't guess how people are doing and just simply ask.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Social Blind Spots: Feedback to Develop Social Intelligence
How do we know when we are being rude? Research shows we can be quite blind to our social blunders. Read about why social intelligence is in the eye of the beholder.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Naive Realism: Even the Left Think They're Right
Whether we lean left or right, it's common to think we see the world accurately but our opponents don't. It's easy to confuse opinion with fact. This article discusses how to cultivate intellectual humility - recognizing the limitations...
Character Lab
Character Lab: Making Kindness Common: How to Raise Kind Kids
Kindness is contagious and kindness spreads. If we want our kids to be kind, not only should we model kindness ourselves, we should go out of our way to expose them to examples within their own age group. Read an example in this blog.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Proactivity
This article discusses the importance of proactivity and three ways to foster it in children.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Purpose
This article discusses the importance of having a sense of purpose and ways to foster it in young people.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Intellectual Humility
Intellectual humility is recognizing the limitations of your knowledge. This article discusses the importance of having intellectual humility and ways to foster it in young people.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Gratitude: Understanding Your Feelings and Using Them Wisely
This article discusses the importance of having gratitude and ways to foster it in young people.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Emotional Intelligence: A Beginner's Guide to Feelings
Emotional intelligence is understanding your feelings and using them wisely. This article discusses the importance of having emotional intelligence and ways to foster it in young people.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Curiosity: Wanting to Know More
This article discusses the importance of being curious and ways to foster it in young people.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Three Good Things: Gratitude
In this daily reflection, you list three things that went well for you, and why they went well. A printable chart is included.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Two Stories: Grit
In this writing activity, you reflect on a time when you succeeded and the steps you took to succeed, and also a time when you failed and what you learned from that. Printables and examples are included.
Character Lab
Character Lab: My Values: Grit, Purpose
In this activity, you will choose 2 to 3 values then write about why they are important to you. Printables and an example of a completed activity are included.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Gratitude Letter: Gratitude
Write a letter to a person who has influenced your life in a positive way. This could be a teacher, relative, mentor, or coach. If you can, read your letter aloud to the person you chose. Printables and examples are included.
Character Lab
Character Lab: Gratitude Journal: Gratitude
Keep a journal where you write in detail about things you are grateful for in your life. Choose from a variety of prompts and respond in 5-6 sentences. Printables and examples are included.