Character and Virtue Development

Tools to guide your child’s heart toward virtue, shaping attitudes and actions through biblical truth. Below you will find resources organized by general virtue development resources as well as resources categorized by specific virtue.

Faith & Godliness
Love &Compassion
Humility & Submission
Integrity & Truth
Deligence & Perseverance
Responsibility & Stewardship
Gratitude & Contentment
Peacemaking & Reconciliation
Cooperation & Service
Obedience & Trust
Wisdom & Discernment

General Virtue & Character Resources:

Our list of foundational virtues to use as a jumping-off point in virtue training.
It is important to not only teach children how to do something, but to teach them the moral reason why we do it
Virtue Posters to use as a reference. Includes scripture, a definition, and practical family incorporation
List of virtues with definitions and scriptural references.
A worksheet you can use to help identify the how and why of a particular virtue.
A Family Virtue Binder created by our friends, The Santellans. Designed to help guide children through the why and how behind the virtue
Another example of a family virtue binder for older children. Created by our friends, The Groats.
Virtues and their corresponding vices
Study on the character traits we see in God.
Learning to be motivated by virtue. See our devotionals that serve as a companion to the book.
How to form virtues and habits
Topical scripture references for virtues
In-depth study on virtues
Building godly character traits.
The Santellan Family shares about creating a family virtue binder as a resource for the whole family.

Specific Virtue Resources:

Faith & Godliness

Knowing, trusting, and revering God in every area of life.
Subcategories: Faithful, Mindful, Knowledge of God, Wise, Image-Bearer, Identity. Vices: Unbelief, Idolatry, Pride, Self-reliance, Worldliness

See this workbook, a companion to this book.
Love & Compassion

Reflecting God’s heart in how we treat others.
Subcategories: Loving, Kind, Gentle, Forgiving Vices: Hatred, Cruelty, Harshness, Bitterness, Indifference

Devotional on the importance of our words and how we speak to one another
Comparison chart to guide us to speak life-giving words. Also see our family devo on the importance of words
The Ramirez Family shares on the importance of how we speak to one another and the impact of really applying Ephesians 4:29 into their family.
Humility & Submission

Yielding to God and others with a servant’s heart.
Subcategories: Humble, Teachable, Submissive, Respectful Vices: Pride, Stubbornness, Arrogance, Rebellion, Disrespect, Hard-Hearted

Integrity & Truth

Living honestly, transparently, and righteously before God and people.
Subcategories: Honest, Pure, Truthful, Upright Vices: Deceit, Hypocrisy, Corruption, Duplicity

Diligence & Perseverance

Faithfully pressing forward in doing good, even when it’s difficult.
Subcategories: Diligent, Consistent, Enduring, Determined Vices: Laziness, Apathy, Irresponsibility, Quitting

Responsibility & Stewardship

Managing one’s time, body, belongings, and commitments faithfully.
Subcategories: Dependable, Orderly. Vices: Carelessness, Wastefulness, Neglect, Irresponsibility

Gratitude & Contentment

Finding peace and joy in God’s presence and provision.
Subcategories: Thankful, Joyful, Peaceful, Satisfied. Vices: Complaining, Envy, Discontent, Greed, Ingratitude

Self-Control & Patience

Choosing what is right over what feels easy; waiting for God’s timing.
Subcategories: Disciplined, Patient, Calm, Wise. Vices: Impulsiveness, Anger, Indulgence, Impatience

A 5 Day study in Self-Control. Can be used alone or as a family devotional
Process for training children 3 and up to have self-control over their words and bodies
The delayed gratification technique is used to train small children in patience and self-control
Instructions on training children the proper way to interrupt adults
Example: 18-month-old doing blanket time
Blanket Time example with multiple children
Self-Control Training
Example: Self-Control Sit Time
How to Interrupt
Another example of teaching children to interrupt respectfully.
Peacemaking & Reconciliation

Resolving conflict and building unity through forgiveness and love.
Subcategories: Forgiveness, Gentleness, Understanding, Compassion. Vices: Strife, Division, Unforgiveness, Hostility, Judgmental

Cooperation & Service

Working together in unity and serving others selflessly.
Subcategories: Helpful, Considerate, Flexible, Servant-Hearted. Vices: Selfishness, Pride, Stubbornness, Inconsideration

Obedience & Trust

Following God’s Word and wise leadership with respect and faith.
Subcategories: Obedient, Trusting, Respectful, Faithful. Vices: Disobedience, Defiance, Distrust, Rebelliousness, Skepticism

Teaching on what biblical obedience looks like. Also see our obedience family devotional
Family devotionals on obedience broken down by age level. See also biblical obedience lesson.
Practical resource on obedience
Skit by the DelaCruz Family demonstrating what first-time obedience looks like.
Wisdom & Discernment

Seeking God’s wisdom and making choices that honor Him.
Subcategories: Wise, Discerning, Thoughtful, Prudent Vices: Foolishness, Naivety, Rashness, Poor Judgment

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