The Six Tasks: Building Character at Home

Character doesn't develop through lectures. It develops through challenges overcome, habits formed, and consistent effort toward worthy goals. The Six Tasks program provides structured challenges that build essential character traits in children—and adults willing to try them.

Each task targets a specific virtue: kindness, teamwork, perseverance, self-discipline, knowledge, and leadership. Completing all six demonstrates commitment to personal growth. The process matters more than the completion—struggling with these challenges builds character regardless of perfect execution.

The Six Tasks Overview

Task One: Kindness

Fifty random acts of kindness sounds simple. It's not. Finding genuine opportunities to help others without being asked requires awareness, initiative, and effort. Kids must actively look for ways to contribute rather than passively waiting for instructions.

Track these acts in a journal. Writing creates accountability and reflection. "Helped Mom carry groceries" differs from vague claims of being nice. Specific documentation builds genuine habits rather than checkbox completion.

Examples that count: holding doors, picking up litter, sharing toys without being asked, complimenting classmates sincerely, helping younger siblings, volunteering to do chores. Examples that don't count: anything you were told to do, anything you received payment or reward for doing.

Task Two: Teamwork

Ten hours helping family members with their projects or chores builds cooperation skills. The key word is "their"—not your assigned chores, but helping others complete their responsibilities. This requires noticing what family members need and offering assistance proactively.

Log hours honestly with parent verification. Helping dad wash the car counts. Cleaning your own room doesn't. The distinction teaches children to contribute beyond minimum expectations.

• Help parents with yard work or house projects they're doing
• Assist siblings with homework in subjects you understand
• Join family cooking projects as active participant
• Contribute to family cleaning days beyond your assigned areas

Task Three: Perseverance

One thousand repetitions of any skill demonstrates commitment through tedium. Choose something meaningful: basketball free throws, piano scales, martial arts techniques, jump rope, drawing exercises. The specific skill matters less than completing the full count.

This task teaches that mastery requires repetition beyond what feels comfortable. Most people quit at fifty repetitions, maybe a hundred. Reaching one thousand puts you in rare territory—and the psychological impact of finishing transforms self-perception permanently.

Break the thousand into daily chunks. Twenty-five repetitions daily reaches goal in forty days. Fifty daily completes in twenty days. Tracking progress visually—a chart on the wall—provides motivation through visible progress.

Task Four: Self-Discipline

Thirty consecutive days without junk food challenges even adults. Children raised on constant treats find this genuinely difficult. That difficulty is the point—self-discipline develops only through exercising it against real resistance.

Define "junk food" clearly before starting: candy, chips, soda, fast food, excessive sugar. Fruits, vegetables, normal meals remain permitted. Strict definitions prevent rationalization. One slip means restart from day one. Harsh? Yes. Effective? Also yes.

The restart rule teaches an essential life lesson: commitment requires consistency. Partial credit doesn't build discipline. Either you maintained standards or you didn't. Learning to restart after failure without quitting entirely builds resilience.

Task Five: Knowledge

Read five books completely. Not picture books for older kids—age-appropriate chapter books that require sustained attention. For young children, being read to counts. The goal is exposure to extended narrative and ideas.

Choose books together with parents. Mix pleasure reading with challenging material. One book should stretch capability slightly—not frustrating, but requiring effort. Growth happens at the edge of comfort zones.

Task Six: Leadership

Teach three lessons to family members or friends. Teaching requires understanding material deeply enough to explain it. This task develops communication skills, confidence, and genuine expertise in chosen subjects.

Lessons can cover anything: a favorite video game, how to make a paper airplane, basic martial arts stances, simple recipes. The topic matters less than the teaching process—organizing information, presenting clearly, checking understanding.

Implementation Tips

Start with the easiest task for your child. Early success builds momentum for harder challenges. Some kids find kindness natural but discipline difficult; others reverse. Customize the sequence to maximize early wins.

Parents participate alongside children whenever possible. Children model adult behavior—your visible effort validates the challenges as worthwhile. Completing the Six Tasks as a family creates shared accomplishment and mutual accountability.

Celebrate completion meaningfully. A certificate, a special dinner, a small gift—something that marks the achievement. External recognition reinforces internal satisfaction. Children who complete all six tasks have accomplished something genuinely difficult.

Victory Karate and Afterschool incorporates the Six Tasks into our character development curriculum. Students work on these challenges alongside their martial arts training, building complete persons rather than just skilled fighters.

Frequently Asked Questions