Building Character from the Inside Out
October 13, 2025
Building Character from the Inside Out – It’s a Team Effort!
At The Granite YMCA, we believe that raising strong, compassionate kids isn’t just about academics and sports—it’s also about character. And, through the work and support from our partner, Dartmouth Health Children’s – we’re working together to support families and caregivers in nurturing the values children carry with them into adulthood—caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. There are traits not only learned in classrooms but also through the everyday examples they see at home, at school, and here at the Y.
Character development is at the heart of everything we do. Through youth development programs, child care, and enrichment activities, we support families by helping kids practice the Y’s four core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Whether it’s working as a team in afterschool care, showing good sportsmanship in youth sports, or lending a hand to a friend at camp, these small lessons add up to a strong foundation for life. Take a look at this short video from Dartmouth Health Children’s featuring Development and Behavioral Pediatrician, Nina Sand-Loud, MD, for some tips to help build character.
Support Your Child's Character Development
Additionally, here are five ways you can support your child’s character development and help model positive behavior.
- Model the Behavior You Want to See: Children learn more from modeling adult behavior. Show respect, kindness, and honesty in your daily interactions. Children notice how you treat others, even in small moments like holding the door or saying thank you.
- Celebrate Effort, Not Just Achievement: Recognize when your child demonstrates responsibility or caring—like cleaning up without being asked or comforting a sibling. This reinforces that character is just as important as success.
- Create Opportunities to Practice Values: Encourage kids to share, help with chores, or volunteer together as a family. At the YMCA, children experience this through group activities, teamwork, and community service.
- Talk About Choices and Consequences: When mistakes happen, use them as teachable moments. Ask questions like, “How do you think that made your friend feel?” This helps kids connect actions with outcomes and builds empathy.
- Surround Them with Positive Role Models: From coaches to teachers to YMCA staff, caring adults make a difference. The more your child sees values modeled consistently across environments, the more natural it becomes for them to live by those values.
At The Granite YMCA and Dartmouth Health Children’s, we’re proud to partner with caregivers in building a brighter future by developing strong, confident kids who lead with integrity and heart.
Together, we can shape the next generation to care deeply, act responsibly, and treat others with kindness and respect.
