Teaching character through movies is a family activity everyone can enjoy. After recently reading Rafe Esquith's book, Lighting their Fires: Raising Extraordinary Kids in a Mixed Up World (2009) I found myself at the library for an entire afternoon researching call numbers and locations (recollecting a lack of understanding of the dewey decimal system from high school) as I searched for films and books whose underlying themes teach lessons of the spirit and soul.

Building people with integrity and character isn't so easy in the days we face. Last spring I chaperoned a school field trip and was assaulted with behavior and language that I found to be lacking in character and respect for one another, and this from kids who were not even in primary school yet.

I'm not tightly wound as it relates to that stuff normally. In fact, I was the rebel foul mouth in my family, but this goes beyond that. This relates to what kids say and think being premeditated enough to know what is respectful and what might hurt another person. This is about helping to grow a kid who has all the tools to become an extraordinary thinker AND feeler in a world where self indulgence and one-upmanship has become the practiced norm. Teaching children how to make the right decision for themselves and others just isn't as simple nor are the tools to do as accessible as one would hope.

My 11 year old son loved watching films like Searching for Bobbie Fischer and The Right Stuff, both of which have powerful historical significance as well show both shallow and deep human character traits and the ability for change to take place with intention of human spirit. I personally found a few foul mouthed giggles in Shallow Hal which used a blowhorn to get to it's point. With my 5 year old daughter alongside, we watched Groundhog Day which shows the difficult process of human change and spirit in Bill Murray as he relives the same day over and over again (Are the days of our life really this repetitious?) hoping to get it all right. Needless to say, it inspired wonderful conversation which would have been too "planned" to draw out any interest in otherwise.

Character education should begin at home and I personally feel grateful that I have the opportunity to facilitate it. We had fun and we learned new things, about history,about striving to make choices that serve everyone, and about each other. I am in awe of my children as I watch them practice selfless deeds, unconditional love, and endless empathy towards others. They are polite and respectful and they are engaging. They probably have more to teach me than I could teach them, but watching the movies together help us to see third-hand what it looks like when the character traits are put into practice without the stumbling block of humility to get in the way.

Esquith's book offers many more ways to teach children "in a mixed up world" and is the third of a series of books written by this award winning and celebrated teacher. His other books are entitled: Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire (2007) and There are No Shortcuts (2003) .