How Do You Raise Your Child to Be a Hero?

It’s the most difficult job in the world: being a parent.

South San Francisco Editor and Davis Patch Editor are brand new parents and are already experiencing the immense joys as well as the inevitable challenges of raising a child.

In a society that is plugged into numerous technologies and highly saturated with blaring images from media, raising a competent, skilled child is already a daunting task.

But what about raising your child to be a hero? How does a parent instill the qualities of bravery, empathy, kindness and selflessness into this little being?

Wall Street Journalist columnist Sue Shellenbarger says the first step is for parents to behave the way they want their kids to behave - with a sense of service and sacrifice.

Parents can set an example in everyday life, by treating neighbors, friends and family members with kindness, or reading stories about empathetic characters,’ Shellenbarger writes.

She goes on to list examples of individuals who have received heroism medals and military personnel who have selflessly saved lives. A list of good books to read, she says, include “The Hundred Dresses,”  “Fly Away Home,”  “Thank You Mr. Falker,” and “How Do I Stand in Your Shoes?”

Patch readers, how do you teach your children generosity and service? Let us know in the comments.