Teaching Kids About Responsibility
“I am responsible for all I do. You can count on me!” – Regina Burch
I have always opened the school year with a lesson about responsibility for all grade levels. It’s the perfect time to focus on the character trait as students are beginning a new year with new teachers and new expectations.
Children learn that responsibility means doing what they’re supposed to do, taking care of things that belong to them or someone else, and owning up to their mistakes or inappropriate choices. They also learn that it’s important for them to follow through with doing the things they are responsible for.
Along with singing songs, as I love to do, role playing “What would you do if…?” is another way to give students the chance to demonstrate how they would make responsible choices. You can also never go wrong with sharing time and letting students share about how they show responsibility or what they are responsible for. Doing this will allow your students to learn from one another and maybe think of ways they can improve on how they display the character trait.
Let’s talk about why it’s important to teach kids about responsibility.
Why Responsibility is an Important Trait to Teach
When we teach kids about responsibility, they learn to be accountable for their behavior and they develop a strong sense of integrity. This in turn can make them feel good about themselves and increase their self-esteem.
When you teach younger students to be responsible, you are also teaching them to be more independent. They will learn to keep up with their belongings and to put things where they are supposed to be. They will also become more self-sufficient which is always the goal.
I believe that just like teachers do in their classrooms, school counselors can provide various responsibilities for students during your time with them. I’ve always believed that giving some challenging responsibilities to students is important. More times than not, students will step up to the plate and meet the challenge.
Finally, just like most of the character traits, when kids learn about being responsible, they are preparing for the future. As they grow older and prepare for life beyond elementary school and middle school, having responsibilities will be a given. When students learn to take responsibility for their actions, they will begin to develop the skills and the attitudes necessary to be successful not only in school, but also in their future careers and personal lives.
Books About Responsibility
I’ll Do It! Taking Responsibility by Brian Moses and Mike Gordon is an excellent choice for discussing the ways students can show responsibility. I first got this book in a set of character-focused books many years ago and it remained a go-to for me when I was looking for books that highlight examples of being responsible. Check out this read-aloud video of I’ll Do It! Taking Responsibility.
But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook introduces your students to Norm, or “Noodle,” who learns that responsibility isn’t just about getting things done. It also means owning up to your own actions. Check out the read-aloud video of But It’s Not My Fault.
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick gives plenty of examples of how to NOT show responsibility. The examples in the book will cause students to think about the choices they make as they realize what would happen if everyone else did the same. Check out the read-aloud video of What If Everybody Did That? here.
As you prepare to teach your students about responsibility, consider adding The Responsibility Files to supplement your lesson. The resource comes with a lower and upper elementary version. It also includes pamphlet versions for those looking for a print-and-go option.
Today’s post will pause the Character Education Series for now. What other character education stops would you like to see?
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