Character Buidling Programs for Little Kids?

I know in elementary schools they have the "Character Counts program".
It made a huge impact on the children.

As a family even when our daughter was a toddler we used to talk about being honest, being helpful, being grateful and having manners. The main thing was to do this because we liked doing it. Not to get attention.

When we went to the grocery store, we offered to take a persons grocery cart back into the store. We always held the doors. We always used thank you, please, pardon me. Sharing and taking fair turns was an everyday event with each other. Offering to help with chores, projects etc. was done as much as possible.

Also empathy was taught by looking at someone having a difficult time and offering to help. Or asking, how would I feel if I was experiencing what they are experiencing.

Just by verbalizing the character things you are doing, is a teaching time, but it will not feel that way to your child..

i kinda feel that's mostly the parents' job. however, even if you're not christian, many preschools are religion based and teach basic loving christian values without ramming dogma down their throats. when it's time to send him, just start looking around. start with the yellow pages and visit some.

my kids' school uses the bucketfiller program. there are a couple of books, your son might be a little young, but really the language is very simple and basic and great for little ones. my son was in first and my daughter in pre k when the school started it, and they both got it instantly. and discipline problems in our school have actually decreased dramatically! check it out...
http://www.bucketfillers101.com/

I think that "character" begins at home...and it is not too early to be teaching your children about respect,being environmentally conscious...patriotism...any of those things that you mentioned!! Children are little sponges...they soak up the things that they are exposed to.
My grandson is 32 months old and he already is enviromentally "green" just like his parents...he will tell me "Grandma...turn that light off when you leave the room". He is also a very empathtic, kind little boy because that is what his parents have modeled for him from the day he was born.
I understand what you are asking for....but know that you and your husband are the first and best teachers of the qualities that you want your children to have.
I can remember that I used to tell my girls bedtime stories as I nursed them to sleep at night...and I would make up my own stories, with a "moral" to them...we would talk about how good it made you feel to share, or to help someone, or how important it was to always tell the truth. You can incorporate these lessons into everything that you say and do during the day. I think the most important thing that my daughter does is to acknowledge my grandsons feelings and actions...and help him see how they impact other people. They really are never too young to start learning about those things!!!

Church - Sunday school for little kids. My church teaches little lessons and songs to kids as young as 18 months, along with letting them drool and play with toys. As kids get a little older, most churches have youth service activities where they go rake leaves for the elderly or clean up trash in the town, etc.

You bet!!!!!!!!!!! Go to www.heartmath.org. There is info related to education and in the store you will find some fantastic programs. Let me know if you need some help navigating through it or have any questions about it. (Might want to check out my profile for a bit more.)

btw - These programs are being increasingly used in schools and I think one day will be part of many curriculums. It's science-validated, field-tested. - Have fun exploring it!!!

Go to a Christian bookstore and look in their children's area for picture and story books with a Bible theme or on specific topics that you are interested in teachng him about, a good store here is called Family Christian. There I'm sure you will find the Veggie Tales book series, have great themes for teaching character education in a cute way that yound kids love. I would also consider looking for a Christian preschool when he is ready around age 3 if you plan to send him to preschool. I teach preschool in a non-denominal church affiliated preschool and charatcer education and child friendly bible stories are built into our weekly curriculum in a fun and child-friendly way. It is a wonderful preschool. You are an awesome Mom if you are thinking about teaching this to your child already. I think that teaching character education starting at a young age and on-going has been sorely lacking in many homes over the last 10-20 years. I feel this is one of the reasons society is a mess right now. THanks.