Throughout the month of May, our Character Essentials® theme is “We Are Responsible”. During this time, we teach children important lessons about how responsibility goes hand in hand with independence and conscientiousness. We also help prepare them to make positive contributions to society.
Taking the time to empower your children to be responsible at home is crucial for creating a foundation for long-term success and instilling a passion for doing good.
- When you ask your child to be responsible, make sure you provide tangible, actionable, and age-appropriate direction
- Talk to your child and come up with a list of activities that show how responsible they are. Encourage their interests and align duties with their personal passions. Give them the opportunity to help you and develop a sense of self-esteem by inviting them to assist with chores and “grown-up” tasks. This might include things like setting the table, donating their toy, making a card for a loved one, or watering a plant.
- Make sure to praise your child for a job well-done and reward them with a fun activity or even just a warm hug. Remember that praise should come with the acknowledgment of the job they did. Say something like, “Thank you for watering the plants today! You did a great job,” or “I noticed you put your dirty clothes in the hamper – that was really helpful!”
Some great books you can read together include:
- “The Ant and the Grasshopper” by Amy Lowry Poole
- “The Busy Beaver” by Nicholas Oldland
- “The Carrot Seed” by Ruth Krauss
- “All By Myself “by Mercer Mayer
- “Bunny Cakes” by Rosemary Wells
- “I Can Do It Myself” by Valorie Fisher
- “Getting Ready” by Cocoretto
- “Little Tiger Picks Up” by Michael Dahl
- “Maisy Cleans Up” by Lucy Cousins
Teaching your child about responsibility conditions their attitude toward upholding duties and being proud of their own good work. When we show children that the people around them value responsibility, we show them that their actions have consequences, and positive actions yield positive outcomes for everyone involved.
Click here to learn more about Character Essentials.
