At CPC San Diego I got a chance to sit down with Heather and Elton kids pastors and founders of We Choose Virtues.
I asked them a few questions –
What made them start We Choose Virtues?
– It started off as a classroom management tool for the preschool class Heather was teaching. The kids had no concept of biblical values and there was no common language that the kids understood. There was little expected of the kids. Heather also saw from her interactions with parents that they were unsure what to discipline kids for that many parents where unsure what to expect of their kids. Upon seeing these things Heather set out to create a tool for her class that was simple enough to be consistant with so that she could use it in her class and so parents could use it in their homes.
How does it work?
The system can be used in most any environment from schools, church, to home. It is based on memorization, repetition and hopefully internalization.
The genius of We Choose Virtues is in the catch-phrases. They “catch on”. Your kids will be quoting the Virtues from the very first day on, and more importantly, they will know how to put them into action in the real world. Both the Kids Collection and the Youth Collection use these phrases that are age-appropriate. Here is a sample of the Kids phrases.
The Virtue: Each Virtue is preceded by the words “I am.” Not “I hope to be” or “I wish I was”. “I am” creates positive momentum and a sense of personal ownership. “I am Content” for example.- The Catchphrase: More than just a definition, the catchphrases are positive, practical and precise action statements that form the core of this system. Use them throughout the day to reinforce right attitudes and actions. “I am Content. I have my ‘Wanter’ under control”.
- The Antonyms: The antonyms are a glimpse into the person they no longer want to be. These explain the negative form of the Virtue by using the phrases “I am not” and “I don’t”. “I am Content. I have my ‘Wanter’ under control. I am not bored, greedy or always wanting more and I don’t beg or whine!”
