When It Comes to Sex, Character Counts
Asking a teen to remain abstinent until marriage without imparting the character skills they will need to achieve that goal is like asking someone to run a marathon without training! The National Guidelines for Sexuality and Character Education by The Medical Institute outlines three areas of defining values, internalizing values and acting on values that children need to be taught. The following character traits outlined in the National Guidelines for Sexuality and Character Education are listed below.
Identifying and defining values
- Empathy enables a person to experience the world from the point of view of others.
- A person cannot determine what is right in a particular situation without taking into consideration all the facts.
- Learning from the experiences of others can be beneficial.
- Becoming a moral person requires an understanding of and assent to a clear set of values, as well as the ability to review and evaluate personal behavior in light of those values.
- All people can learn to develop positive habits in life.
- A young person demonstrates responsibility by studying and completing school assignments, helping out at home, being honest and fair with others, and treating others with respect.
- Moral values such as honesty, loyalty, courage, perseverance, faithfulness, self control, justice, trustworthiness, respect and responsibility are universally recognized and are important in human relationships.
- It takes courage to resist the pressure to go against one's value system.
- Practicing responsible behavior can, at times, create positive pressure for peers to do likewise.
- Choices and actions have consequences, both negative and positive.
- Television programs do not always trace choices and actions through to their probable consequences.
Internalizing values
- One sign of growing and maturing is seeking opportunities for self improvement.
- A person should learn how to use time in positive ways.
- If we hurt another person, we should feel remorse, make amends and try to do better.
- Helping other people is often the first step in learning to respect the intrinsic worth of every person.
- Positive self esteem helps to make us less dependent on the approval of others.
- High self esteem does not guarantee healthy behavior. To produce positive behavior, healthy self esteem must be based on qualities of good character.
- Empathy enables a person to understand others.
Acting on values
- It is easier to help others if a person has had previous experience in doing so.
- Willpower helps a person resist negative peer pressure.
- Self respect comes from being honest, kind, helpful and considerate.
- Willpower helps a person delay immediate gratification, develop talents and work toward goals.
- Maturity is the ability to turn good judgment and feelings into positive and healthy actions.
Work well done is a reflection of personal dignity and self worth.
Background Information
Questions and Answers
Stories
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Related Topics
Transitions: Having a Baby, Preparing for Adolescence
Life Pressures: Working Moms, Stay-At-Home Moms, Time for Family
Relationships: Parents and Adult Children, Blended Families
