Teaching Kids to Care: Nurturing Character and Compassion

"Dreaming about a child's future begins long before the child is actually born. We wish for them to be happy, successful, well adjusted and healthy. Unfortunately, the world sends mixed messages and children do not just download these qualities. How do we as parents ensure that our children have the empathy and integrity that we dreamed they would? How do we fight the all too human attributes of selfishness, self-absorption, complacency, bullying and isolation and teach children to care?" --from Teaching Kids to Care

The award-winning Kids Korps founders present parents with a fresh framework and the tools necessary to shape children into productive, well-adjusted, compassionate individuals. By focusing on the five caring "Touchstones," they offer ways to surround their children with actions and messages designed to strengthen character, build self-esteem and develop inner contentment.

Bettie B. Youngs, PhD, EdD, teacher of the year, university professor and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of 32 books in 24 languages; Joanne Wolf, PhD, clinical psychologist; Joani Wafer, business entrepreneur; and Dawn Lehman, PhD, cultural anthropologist are the founders of Kids Korps USA. They are parents with fifteen children and stepchildren and five grandchildren combined, experts in their respective fields.

Redbook awarded authors the "Mothers and Shakers Award" for their contributions toward promoting peace in America. They received recognition from California's State Assembly, Senate, and Office of the Governor for their dedication to youth volunteerism. There are more than 300 articles written about Kids Korps volunteer projects and events.