I Like ME - Building Confidence in Children

What does that mean, "I Like ME?" Hi, I'm Miss Joni and I created the Characters of Character NFP. We teach our children vital core values, after all, wouldn't you rather teach them than they learn in a difficult situation? While I was a teaching assistant on our school Reading Team, I had the opportunity to Pilot the characters which won a National Promising Practice Award. That was 19 years ago and we have grown!

If you were to tell me as my younger self that one day you'd form a nonprofit organization and make a difference in the life of a child, I'd think you were crazy! I have learned, I have grown and I continue to step out of my comfort zone because I know the impact that the characters have on our children and society.

People have asked me so many times, 'WHY' you don't make any money, you are always working on things and sometimes it's all you talk about! All very true. However, when you can see the impact that the characters have on a child, you keep going and going. I've shared that with my Ph.d. my Passion, my Heart and my Determination I will make a difference. I'm a high school graduate, a wife and a mom. No grands and so I get to spend my Ph.d. on other children. A dear friend once said to me after I asked her "I wonder why the good Lord hasn't given us any grandchildren?" She said, "because you would not be doing what you're doing with the characters if you did" and she couldn't be more right.

Our character Self-esteem Elephant has visited Shriner's in Chicago, Girl Scout Troops, classrooms and events to share this message of confidence. Our favorite way is to engage a child in activities and conversations and talking about what it is that they like about who they are. Usually I say to the group, "Think about this, what do you like about you?" and I always get the answer of how they like all their material possessions. Then, I need to break it down and when you're working with a small group it becomes an eye opener as each child then shares what they are good at and like to do. Their peers learn new things about their classmates and friends and the conversations begin to overflow!

If you're a parent reading this, I encourage you to ask your own children what they like about who they are!

While at an event in Hendersonville we passed out coloring pages from this character and water bottles that said "I Like Me"

We also share these to our volunteers at Austin Peay and Belmont University on Volunteer Day. We all need to be reminded of who we are, what we like about who we are and even what we would like to change about who we are. We are all always learning and growing to be better and do better. How fun to start with this!

These characters are kid friendly, a great visual reminder to us, an adult and such a simple way to talk about character. We hope you'll visit us on line to learn more and as always, consider supporting our nonprofit organization as we continue to make a difference in the life of a child.

Miss Joni and Team Characters