Teaching Kids Responsibility

Hi and welcome to this just for kids’ series episode – my name if Felice Gerwitz and I want to encourage the kids today to not only become more responsible but also to think about being responsible but also to see how much good they can do in the world, that truly needs brave souls!

Check out my website and the Truth Seekers Mystery series available for immediate download! And for kids – the Character planners that are available on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network – you can sign up and start receiving planners each month for free.

SO, let’s begin. What is responsibility – does this mean work? Does this mean not having any fun, does this mean I must watch my brother, my sister my neighbor, my neighbors next door neighbors kid? No, no and no. Responsibility is something you may already have but it is a little dusty and you need to take it out, polish it up and allow it to shine.

Being responsible as a kid means you will turn into a responsible adult – and what you can do is look at your parents as an example.

Responsibility means doing what is right and just and treating others the way you want to be treated. Just think about this… you are hungry and your mom says, dinner is ready. You go to the table, and there is no food, in fact you didn’t smell anything cooking. You get to the table and see a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly, and some stale chips. The bread is frozen, the peanut butter is the kind with the oil on top that must be stirred, and the jelly has mold on the top of the container. Your mom breezes into the room and says – hey, everyone! So, sorry, I was texting my friends, and talking on social media so I just forgot all about dinner, help yourself, I’m going out to eat, see you later!

Is that being responsible? Do you think that would ever happen? If you are listening to this podcast I think the answer is no. Being responsible means to take charge of the things that you are supposed to do and get them done, it does not mean eating and leaving your dishes in the sink for someone else to wash, especially if you are the only one left eating. It means helping without being asked and taking care of your own things –your bed, your room, your dirty laundry.

One of my children just couldn’t remember to hang up his towel after his shower, pick up his dirty laundry off the bathroom floor and put it in his clothes hamper. I would nag and ask him to pick it up and he just did not remember. He was a very polite child however and told me how sorry he was, over and over again. He truly forgot to do this simple task. So, what did I do? I didn’t plan to do this but it happened this way… once he was in bed, all snuggled up, and I left his room… I walked into the bathroom to turn off the lights – because of course that was forgotten as well – and what did I see? The normal pile of clothes that I would pick up and his towel that I would hang up – so, I decided enough was enough and I went into his room and asked him to pick up his clothes, hang up his towel and turn off the light – He said, sure mom! You are the best, I’ll do it right now… no, he didn’t say that he said, NOW? I just got to bed! I insisted and guess what It only took that one time and he never forgot again. I have another son and it took him a few more times to remember.

I told you the story because one key SECRET to responsibility is to DO. It. Now. Don’t wait, because you may forget, the zombie apocalypse might happen and you might miss your chance. I’m kidding about the zombie apocalypse – but you get the point! If we wait until later that means, we think that whatever we are doing is more important.

Have you had to wait to talk to an adult before? What happens if you interrupt – probably nothing good, you get in trouble, but you know that ANTOHER the key to repsponsibility is realizing your job – what is your job do you know? Your job is to be a kid. That does not mean you get to sit on the couch watch movies and eat bon-bons – bon bons are fancy candies in case you want to know.

A kid must be a welcome member of the family, helpful, ready to listen, excited to get to eat meals each day and sleep in a warm or cool bed (if it’s hot outside) and understand that it is a privilege to be part of a family. Families are usually small, medium or large, families are loud or quiet or somewhere in between, families are full of love and laughter. OR they would be with responsible kids.

Just like you would not be happy with oily peanut butter and frozen bread, and moldy jelly for dinner which shows a lack of parental responsibility – you should realize that when you don’t do your part as a good member of the family then you too are dropping the ball. You are not being a responsible kid.

Your parents are responsible – they provide a place for you to sleep, meals, and give you opportunities to learn.

How can you be responsible?

Honoring your parents.
Being aware of your part of being a family.
Being helpful.
Taking care of your personal things.
Doing your chores and school work.
Doing the best you can.
Being accountable for what you do.
Not make excuses.
Keep promises.
Remember the Golden Rule.

Can you, do it? Can you be responsible? Just remember that you are part of a family and that means you enjoy the good times and you enjoy all the blessings that God has given you – so be thankful and rejoice, and I pray that you will ask the Lord to bless you with a gift of responsibility not only for yourself but for your family.