CharacterQ™ Curriculum Overview

Self-Awareness and Self-Esteem

CharacterQ™ helps children develop self-acceptance, a positive self-concept, and a sense of personal worth by teaching them how to accept, celebrate, and treat themselves well. Skill areas include:

• Celebrating my abilities, talents, and accomplishments
• Accepting myself and celebrating my uniqueness
• Liking myself and being my own best friend
• Using positive self-talk
• Trying and doing my best
• Keeping myself healthy and safe

Friendship, Communication, and Social Skills

CharacterQ™ teaches children the social skills they need to get along well with others, and to feel an important sense of connection and belonging with their peers. They also learn how to communicate positively with others. Skill areas include:

• Sharing and taking turns fairly with others
• Making and keeping friends
• Including and inviting others to play
• Cooperating and using teamwork with others
• Speaking and listening politely to others
• Being kind to others

Empathy, Emotional Awareness, and Emotion Management Skills

CharacterQ™ fosters children’s emotional health and well-being by nurturing their ability to recognize, understand, and manage all of their feelings. They also learn how to show a care and concern for the feelings of others. Skill areas include:

• Recognizing and understanding other people’s feelings
• Recognizing and understanding my own feelings
• Showing empathy and compassion to others
• Managing and comforting my unpleasant feelings
• Calming down and handling my strong feelings positively
• Expressing my feelings in positive, helpful ways

Optimism, Resiliency, and Growth Mindset Skills

CharacterQ™ nurtures the inner resources and positive habits of mind that enable children to handle the normal challenges and setbacks in life with optimism, resiliency, and confidence. They also learn how to have a growth mindset. Skill areas include:

• Having a positive attitude
• Thinking positive thoughts
• Picturing positive things for myself
• Believing in myself: Being a “Can-Do Kid!”
• Setting goals for myself
• Persevering when faced with challenges and setbacks

Self-Regulation and Positive Decision-Making Skills

CharacterQ™ teaches children to be responsible for their words and actions, and to understand how their behaviour affects others. They also learn how to demonstrate self-reliance and responsibility, and to use self-control to make positive choices with their behaviour. Skill areas include:

• Being in charge of my words and actions
• Learning to “Stop & Think” before I act or speak
• Following rules and instructions
• Understanding the consequences of my words and actions
• Using self-control to say no to negative choices
• Thinking and acting for myself

Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution Skills

CharacterQ™ teaches children how to be calm and resourceful when faced with problems and conflicts. They also learn how to stand up for themselves and others in positive, assertive ways; and to deal positively with teasing, put-downs, and bullying. Skill areas include:

• Staying calm and in control when faced with problems or conflicts
• Accepting and respecting other people’s differences
• Compromising and cooperating with others
• Being a positive problem-solver
• Being a peaceful conflict-solver
• Standing up for myself and others in positive ways

Mindfulness, Focusing, and Relaxation Practices

Children learn how to ground and center themselves through such mindfulness practices as deep breathing, meditation, and guided visualizations. They also learn how to focus their attention, and to be mindful of what they think, feel, and do. Skill areas include:

• Calming and relaxing my body and mind
• Stilling and centering myself
• Finding the Quiet, Peaceful Place within me
• Focusing my awareness and attention
• Being mindful of my words and actions
• Learning how to be present