Our child's problems often grab our attention first. With a little bit of practice, we can begin noticing the strengths that are easy to overlook.
In this section, we will take time to discover the unique parts of your child that will help them to flourish and grow.
Scroll down to continue
Strengths to Discover
Click on a picture for more information about each strength.
Note: Examples are based on the Character Strengths Inventory for Early Childhood (CSI-EC) developed by Prof. Anat Shoshani.
Plan to remember your child's strengths
Frequently Asked Questions
How did you pick the strengths for the Strengths to Discover page?
Each of these twenty-four strengths are known as character strengths. According to scientific research, character strengths are widely valued, associated with happiness, and can be improved with practice. For each of these reasons, it is particularly valuable for caregivers to notice and develop character strengths in their child.
If my child doesn't have a strength, is there a way to develop it?
As you explore the strengths, it is common to notice strengths that you wish were stronger in your child. Strengths develop with age and practice, so you may notice new strengths as your child grows. It is also important to remember that the behaviour you give your attention to is the behaviour that tends to grow. By giving your attention to your child's current strengths behaviours, you can help those strengths to grow, even if the behaviours seem basic or inconsistent.
Why do my child's strengths sometimes cause problems?
Many parents can think of examples where their child's strength use seemed to cause problems (e.g., a child using their strength of authenticity to inform their relative that they did not like a gift). Research suggests that effective strengths use needs to match the situation. In other words, we need to choose the right strengths for the situation and use them to the appropriate degree. Young children may not understand that there is an appropriate time to apply strengths or they may over-use strengths in some situations. Using strengths effectively is a skill that children develop with practice. The "Apply" section will provide more information about how your child can practice using strengths.