a Big Life

Character Strengths

Rebecca from the Big Life team has been discussing Character Strengths with the Intermediate VCAL students. With their teachers, the classes are forming a picture of the unique strengths each student brings to the class.

We all have the capacity to express 24 character strengths, (pictured) such as curiosity, perseverance, teamwork and creativity. The way your child expresses their unique profile of strengths will be unique to them.

Research shows that despite students bringing their own social and emotional challenges with them to school, a positive school environment that encourages students to understand and utilise their personal strengths, results in improved wellbeing, performance and engagement.

Traditionally, as parents and teachers, we have encouraged students to work on their weaknesses to fit into societal expectations. Strengths research suggests that we can still encourage our students to be optimistic, resilient and accomplished but we can do this by encouraging them to use their strengths to handle a variety of situations. The key to becoming a strength-based parent is to notice a strength in your child and have a conversation about it: Asking your child which of their strengths could be used to solve a problem, or by letting your child know you appreciate how their strengths help the family.

All students at Warrnambool College have the opportunity to discover their strengths, if you haven’t already done so, ask your child what theirs are tonight!

You can find out your own strengths at:  https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/surveys/takesurvey