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Thomas Lickona, Ph.D.

About

Thomas Lickona, Ph.D., is a psychologist and educator who has been called “the father of modern character education.” A professor of education emeritus at State University of New York, Cortland, he is the founding director of his university's Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility) and author of nine books on moral development and character education, including Raising Good Children, Educating for Character, Character Matters, Sex, Love, and You, and How to Raise Kind Kids (April 2018).

Books by Thomas Lickona, Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Trouble With Discipline? Focus on Character, Not Punishment

Parents often struggle with discipline, especially if they're focused on punishment. We'll get better results if we use misbehavior as an opportunity to teach good character.

Parents often struggle with discipline, especially if they're focused on punishment. We'll get better results if we use misbehavior as an opportunity to teach good character.

Talking to Teens About Love and Sex

More teens are deciding not to have sex. We can help them develop a vision of love and sex that solidifies their decisions.

More teens are deciding not to have sex. We can help them develop a vision of love and sex that solidifies their decisions.

8 Ways Parents Can Teach and Get Respect

It's impossible to parent well if our kids don't respect us. How can we model respect, require it in all family interactions, and consistently correct disrespectful behaviors?

It's impossible to parent well if our kids don't respect us. How can we model respect, require it in all family interactions, and consistently correct disrespectful behaviors?

Can't Get Your Kids to Mind? Try the 4 E's

Having trouble getting kids to obey? You'll have more success if you use the 4 E's: Expect obedience, Explain your expectation, Enable the desired behavior, and Enforce the rule.

Having trouble getting kids to obey? You'll have more success if you use the 4 E's: Expect obedience, Explain your expectation, Enable the desired behavior, and Enforce the rule.

"But, Mom, We Do Love Each Other!"

At a parenting conference where I spoke, a mom said her 16-year-old daughter had just told her that she and her boyfriend felt ready to have sex. What could she say in response?

At a parenting conference where I spoke, a mom said her 16-year-old daughter had just told her that she and her boyfriend felt ready to have sex. What could she say in response?