Reading Aloud To Your Kids

Well, if you don't know me, you don't know! When we moved to Tennessee four years ago in October, we fell in love with everything about it, the people, the places, the faces and the cows! My friend sent me this shirt and when we were walking around last weekend, we found this random cow in a yard. I mean, c'mon! I need me some cows!

The reason that we relocated to Tennessee from Illinois was to ground ourselves, plant our roots and share our organizaiton, Characters of Character. From an idea, to an award winning National Promising Practice recipient, to a published author, and President of our organization. The Nashville Predators gave us our first grant which my husband and I took as a sign, let's go! And with Blessing from our adult children, no grands, we loaded up the truck and started a new chapter here in Tennessee.

I have shared so many times about my Ph.d., and when people meet me they say, 'haha, oh, Joni, you're funny' cause all I did was graduate high school, became a mom at 20 and work odd jobs. But, when you have PASSION, HEART and DETERMINATION you, too have a Ph.d.!

I'm very proud of my life choices, I worked retail, I worked in the Farmstand at a grocery chain, I took children in to our home to keep safe and watch as parents worked, I volunteered at our children's schools, I was the "lunch lady" in a Jr. High, I worked in the kitchen at the elementary school, I worked as a teaching assistant and I taught preschool. I guess that's not all to bad, but my biggest accomplishment is mom of three awesome adults, a wife for 45 years and a dream weaver of living my purpose, Making a difference in the life of a child.

If you're looking for books, ideas, and resources to teach your children, grandchildren or students about good behavior, perseverance, healthy habits, friendship, manners, respect, being responsible, beingkind and having confidence, look no further, we at Characters of Character are here for you!

There is no greater honor than teaching our children, engaging our children, and impacting our children with positive life lessons and activities. When, not if, but, when you have the chance, take it! Be present in it! And, embrace it because they grow pretty fast and soon you'll only have memories that last. One of the biggest lessons I've learned while raising and working with children, is this. Be present. Stop what you're doing in your busy life and listen to what they say, what they share with you and what they want to know from you. And, again, when you can, read with them, read to them and sit with them.

If you would like to learn more about our organization, our projects or the characters, please reach out to us! Our main project is donating our Superhero Character building activity boxes to the children's hospitals here in Tennessee. We have built relationships with the East Tennessee Children's Hospital, not yet had the opportunity to donate to the new Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. We have donated to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt Clinic in Clarksville as well as the Kids Rainbow Clinic in Clarksville. This began during Covid and after seeing the need for these boxes it has become our main project.

Another project we are working on is our activity boxes being donated to Fort Campbell Army Base as we have donated a few times and even brought a few of our Characters to visit the children there! Recently, we learned that there are three Elementary Schools, an Early Learning Center and a Pre-School program we would like to bring into our circle. They are very appreciative of these donations and while we have only donated to the Gardner Hills School Age Children Center, we are hoping to grow on the base. They love them and we love bringing them to the staff and children who truly utilize the boxes in a full circle way. They created a Kinder Club and when we let them know that we were coming to do some activities with the students, they asked if the first graders could join in because they already knew who the character were! Our pleasure!

We hope you join our email list as we offer plenty of ideas and resources for you to use in your own home or classroom. Plus, are you following us on social media, we hope that you do because we are here for YOU!

Miss Joni and Team Characters