Forming our Youth: Orderliness

Forming Our Youth:
a Marriage-Building Parish Building Block

We must form young people in the beliefs and virtues necessary for healthy relationships. > Read more about this building block

As part of the Marriage Building Parish initiative, the Catholic Family Institute, with permission from Four Court Press LTD, will feature excerpts from Mr. Isaac’s book each month in the bulletin and on this blog.



Character Building: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by David Isaacs

In his book, Mr. Isaacs explores twenty-four virtues we should develop to have more “self-mastery and better serve others,” abilities we all hope our children will have.  Recognizing that the example we set leaves a more lasting impression on our children than the words we say, each chapter includes a description of a virtue and a series of questions that help assess how well you are living that virtue and how well you are helping to develop the virtue in children/students.

The next virtue discussed is Orderliness.

We are orderly when we follow a logical procedure in organizing our things and our time. It is also important to be orderly in our thoughts and communication. Personal tidiness and tidiness of the home is extremely important for reasons of hygiene, but also as a preliminary for any attempt to be orderly elsewhere. Children should be taught to put things in some logical place that fits with their nature and purpose, so that they do not get broken and can be found again without fuss. However, once basic standards for order/cleanliness are understood, let children tidy in their own way creating their own systems rather than imposing your own ways upon them.

In using our time properly, we must remember to hold fast to what is truly important and not be slaves to the tyranny of the urgent. For children, it is best to create routines for things that happen daily, such as meals, naps/bed time, and homework and to stick with them as much as possible. As children get older, they should be encouraged to keep a planner or calendar to manage their assignments and extracurricular activities and take more personal responsibility for meeting deadlines.

Answer the following questions and discuss your reflections with a spouse/friend.

Am I Orderly?

• Do I have a clear hierarchy of values for my own life and for the education/formation of the children?
• Do I usually know where to find my things? Do I keep them in sensible places and put them back when I have finished using them?
• Am I punctual when carrying out my duties/commitments or getting places?

Do I Teach Others to be Orderly?

• Do I teach the children to schedule or plan their chores, homework and other activities so that each receives adequate attention?
• Do I create and stick to daily routines for the children, especially younger ones?
• Do I help the children create systems for storing their toys, clothes, etc.?  Do I make sure that they use their things properly and return them to the right place after using them?

Please share your thoughts and comments.