Who do you know that is responsible and why is it so important? A responsible person does what he or she says and follows through. It means you can be trusted and it helps you learn to be a good leader. Being responsible helps make the world a better place. It’s a positive characteristic that is learned by watching others and also by practicing.
Each of us is responsible for our own actions, words, thoughts and choices.
You show that you are responsible by what you say and then do. Did you do your best on your homework and then hand it in on time? Are your chores done and your toys and clothes put away? Do you follow the rules at school, at home and in your community? Do you take care of the environment by recycling and being careful not to litter? The more right choices you make, the more you build responsibility into your character.
Of course none of us is perfect, we all make mistakes sometimes. Even if you do make a mistake, there are usually many things you can do to help things go better. Here are three steps that will help you make responsible choices.
Making good choices and being responsible can help you feel better about yourself and your life. You’ll be happier and healthier. You’ll have friends who care about you and your family, teachers and other people will trust you.
This article is part of a series inspired by the book What Do you Stand For? A Guide to Building Character for Kids by Barbara Lewis
Here are some things you can do to help build responsibility into your character.
Keep a choice log. Keep track of the good and not-so-good choices you made and write about them. If you made a good choice, how did it feel? If you didn’t what will you do differently next time and what can you do now to make things better?
Make a “Who’s Responsible” chart for your family. List the date, chore, name of responsible person, and a spot to check or star when it is done. If you have a younger brother or sister, figure out some kind of small reward he or she will get from you if they do a nice job with their jobs. Younger siblings love it when their older brother or sister reads to them or plays with them. Maybe you could make cookies together or watch a movie if you both get your jobs done. The choices are endless.
Volunteer and/or do a little extra for your family, school or community. Be in charge of the recycling program at school or help your parents with the yard work without them having to ask.
Kelly Dupre of Grand Marais is an artist, children’s author, and educator with over 20 years teaching experience with all age groups in a variety of settings. The activities in this once-a-month column are spin-offs and combinations of ideas she has used and learned from teachers, parents, kids, books, and workshops. Only some of the activities has she actually thought of herself!
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