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Practices for Identity Development

      Briefly, the characteristics needed for growth in personal security included practices that incorporate routine, procedure, system, safety precautions, consistency, continuity, predictability and following the maxim: "Say what you mean and mean what you say." Growth in autonomy was associated with practices that foster responsible independence, self-governance, intrinsic self-control, respectful assertiveness, accountability, praising effort more than result, and doing nothing for a child that the child can do independently. Initiative was believed to be fostered by exposure to varied experiences, seeing adults model positive recovery after making a mistake, having the materials, tools and resources available that relate to varied interests, praising process rather than product, encouraging appropriate risk taking, valuing freedom tempered with responsibility and consequences, and establishing basic standards and deadlines for chores. Parents and children suggested that growth in industry requires behaviors built upon steady care, productivity, follow through, deadlines, long range projects, time management, working side-by-side with an adult on projects of many steps, and living by the maxim: "Plan your work and work your plan."

     Focusing on how to establish, develop, maintain, and remediate a child's sense of security, autonomy, initiative, and industry contributes to a soul formation that incorporates spiritual, moral, social, psychological and civic well-being.