By November, our first graders are beginning to grasp that they have many new responsibilities! To help them understand what a responsibility is, and why it's important, we are viewing a short video called All About Responsibility. By teaching children the meaning of responsibility and the kinds of responsible behavior we expect, we set them on the road to independence and enable them to develop the healthy sense of self-worth that comes from the personal satisfaction of knowing they can be counted on.
Children rarely learn responsible behavior on their own. Certainly, many students may arrive in middle elementary grades having had some degree of experience in helping out with household tasks or taking responsibility for self-care. But behaving responsibly involves far more than this. It means living up to our obligations, keeping our word, taking care of our own property and that of others, and being accountable for our actions – or inactions as the case may be – including a willingness to accept any consequences that follow.
Developing a moral and ethical orientation toward personal responsibility is an essential part of growing up. The elementary years are a time when, from the standpoints of mental capability and emotional readiness, students are not only highly receptive to moral values and how they should behave in various situations, but eminently teachable.
Be aware of these ‘teachable moments’ when they arise. Children must learn to recognize that taking responsibility for their actions increases their sense of independence and self-worth. They must also become aware that irresponsible behavior can have unforeseen and unwelcome consequences.
Reading for parents: Parenting With Love and Logic, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay; Grow Up: How Taking Responsibility Can Make You a Happy Adult, by Frank Pittman; Raising a Responsible Child: How Parents Can Avoid Overindulgent Behavior and Nurture Healthy Children, by Elizabeth Ellis.
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