Book Review
Building Moral Intelligence
The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing
Michele Borba, Ed.D.
Reviewed by Krissi Gayle
Copley OH USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 4, July-August 2004, p. 140
At the birth of a new baby,
a parent's first question is often, "Is my baby healthy?"
The birth attendant can easily answer that. But, another important question
is far more complex: "Will my child become a good and decent human
being?"
Building Moral Intelligence
is a wonderfully direct and detailed handbook to assist parents in doing
just this, raising children who will grow to be respectful, kind, and
moral adults.
Michele Borba has identified
seven attributes that define a morally strong child. Three virtues form
the core of moral intelligence: empathy, conscience, and self-control.
The other four virtues, respect, kindness, tolerance, and fairness,
then combine to form what we know about integrity, justice, and citizenship.
These principles together create a child's "moral compass,"
guiding the way toward responsible living in harmony with others.
Borba sees the powerful connection
between parent and child as critical for optimal moral growth and she
reinforces this throughout the book. There are concrete and detailed
examples of ways in which parents can teach, model, and nurture their
children's character development while further deepening their relationship.
In discussing a virtue, each
section contains a short "quiz" to evaluate a child's strengths
and needs. Steps and activities to enhance the concept follow each assessment.
Several highlighted boxes, titled "Moral Intelligence Builders,"
present suggestions for fostering the development of a particular virtue.
For example, in the chapter on respect, Borba lists "Eight Simple
Ways to Show Your Children You Respect and Cherish Them." One way
is to give your child a small photo album containing pictures of just
the two of you. Another idea is to write an annual letter to your child
telling him or her why you're glad he or she is part of your life. Read
the letter together. Then, save all these letters and give them to the
child as a special twenty-first birthday present. When discussing another
virtue, fairness, Borba offers "Signs of a Strong Sense of Fairness
to Share with Kids." These signs are well-defined aspects of fairness
you can teach a child. Children are more likely to integrate qualities
of fairness into their daily lives when they are aware of what fairness
actually looks like. Building Moral Intelligence recognizes children's
developmental stages and capabilities and provides suggestions for adapting
the principles for toddlers to teenagers.
Borba recognizes the adverse
climate that confronts families striving to instill positive virtues.
The decrease of prominent role models, the increase in obscene language
and crudeness flaunted by the media, the decline of meaningful community
support, and the abundance of inappropriate videos and Internet sites
can be threatening to families trying to nurture their children. Each
chapter addresses these overt and subtle dangers and provides suggestions
to counteract their influence on children. Parents will feel a camaraderie
with Borba as she guides the way for healthy families.
A wonderful bonus to the
book is the inclusion of an extensive resource section. Borba suggests
books, videos, and Web sites for parents, teachers, and children to
enrich discussion of the seven virtues. The book is extremely easy to
read, either in its entirety or just one specific section. Building
Moral Intelligence is an essential guide for parents on the journey
of raising a child to be an incredible person.
Last updated Tuesday, October 24, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:21 UTC 2007.
