Foundations of Character Report Press Release
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Following the launch of Foundations of Character at the House of Lords on Friday 21st May 2010, the press release for the event, along with photographs are now available below:

Families and professional carers are central to a child's character development
Early childhood years lay the groundwork for character development, as families, early educational professionals and peers play a vital role in shaping children's moral awareness, said Professor James Arthur, of the University's School of Education.
Youngsters learn strategic negotiating skills from one another and their carers as they acquire a sense of moral awareness, a key University of Birmingham and Canterbury Christ Church University study into child development has found.
The findings, detailed in 'Foundations of Character', researched and co-authored by Dr Sacha Powell and Dr Hsing Chiung Lin of Canterbury Christ Church University, were unveiled in the House of Lords on Friday, May 21, by Lord Watson of Richmond, chairman of Learning for Life.
It is the fifth study carried out by Professor Arthur and his research team that investigate the values and character development of children and young people.
'Foundations of Character' explores development in early childhood. It focuses on 24 children, who were all aged between 36 and 48 months old when the study began in June 2008, their parents, carers, professional carers and teachers.
Professor Arthur, Professor of Education and Civic Engagement, said it was clear that the way children negotiate with one another reveals that they are aware of moral complexities and have a sense of one another as well as of themselves. "Parents and carers have much to work with, as by example and through questioning, they assist the children in their care to give voice to their values".
Lord Alan Watson of Richmond, who launched the report, said: "It is commonly assumed that the influences on the early years of a child's life are determinative for the future individual: the evidence in this report suggests that the situation is more complex.
"It is true that the home and the professional environment are of the utmost importance, but children themselves take initiatives and explore their own experience through story and play which inform their growing self-awareness, knowledge of other people and sense of responsibility.
"As with other areas of education, early intervention and positive example seem to be crucial ingredients in developing a child's values. Nothing is more important for the future well-being of our society than this dimension of education."
