WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING RESPONSIBLE?

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If you get angry with your little sister because she wants to play with one of your toys and you push her away, causing her to bump into a table and break a flower vase, who is responsible for the damage? Is is your little sister because she bumped into the table? Or is it you because you lost control and pushed her out of anger?

Sometimes taking responsibility for your actions can be hard. Nobody wants to get in trouble, but is it fair to blame others for what YOU started by choosing the wrong behavior to resolve an issue?

Check out this story about Lemon...a clown that doesn't think there will be any consequences for choosing to not take care of his things. It's all about...

RESPONSIBILITY

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THE CARELESS CLOWN

Once there was a clown named Lemon. 

He was a lot of fun, but also very careless. Whenever he did anything, he almost always ended up tearing his jacket, getting a hole in his sock, or ripping the knee of his trousers. Everyone said he should take more care of his things, but Lemon though that would be really boring.

Soon, the most important day in Lemon's life arrived. 

Everyone in town prepared a party for him, in celebration of Lemon's many years of service in making the citizens chuckle. On that day he wouldn't have to wear his colorful clown suit. He would be able to dress like anyone else, and everyone was sure to comment on how nice he looked in his suit.

However, the night before, he looked in his closet, and found there wasn't a single suit in good condition. They were all ripped and torn, Lemon couldn't possibly go to the party dressed in those. All that was fit for him to wear was his clown clothes. 

On the day of the party Lemon arrived, dressed like a clown, and everyone laughed as they always had, but Lemon was not happy. He had dreamed of being, just for one day in the year, the hero of the show, and not just the clown. Oh, how he wished he had listened to his friends and taken better care of his things!

 

Very early the next day, Lemon decided to start taking better care of his suits. Eagerly he replaces all the torn, worn-out clothes with clean, new ones. Soon all the people of the village was complimenting Lemon on how well he looked dressed in his new clothes. And that made Lemon very happy because now, he was more than just a clown in everyone's eyes.

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Take a moment to think about your chores at home. Are you in charge of keeping your room clean? Do your parents expect you to help out around the house and look after the family pet?

How about at school? How does the teacher know if you understand the lessons if you don't turn in your homework? And do you walk quietly in a straight line to the cafeteria or do you race down the hall like a wild animal?

Choosing to behave in a certain way and remembering to take good care of your things are great examples to show the people around you that you know what the word RESPONSIBILITY means. And doesn't it make you feel proud inside when you know others are proud of you as well?

  sponsored by the KICKS Kids Club

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7 Life Skills All Kids Should Have

There is one thing ALL kids are skilled at and that is knowing how to play. But will that get them where you, as their parent, want them to be when they grow up?

While the world around us may have changed since we were kids...a little bit harsher, a little bit scarier...there are still basic life skills all children should have learned well before they enter high school in order to increase their chances of being productive adults later on in their lives.

Here are SEVEN life skills you child should understand and fully use as they enter elementary school and beyond:

1) RESPECT

          A child should not only show respect for themselves but as well as others. Knowing the boundaries of proper behavior not only when a child is by themselves, but also when they are around others show a child's understanding of the proper social cues. Saying things like "please" and "thank you" and patiently waiting their turn when in line for activities lets others know the child cares enough about others to be courteous at all times. Saying no to bad choices shows the child also has enough self-respect to risk what others may think by them standing up for what they believe in. This life skill helps develop a strong moral compass for future adult behavior.

2) CONFIDENCE 

          Children should be encouraged to overcome any hesitation to try positive, new adventures. Some kids fear the unknown, what others might think of them, or even worry people will laugh at them. A child who exudes confidence will not be seen by others as a "victim" and is better able to handle negative situations like bullying, peer pressure, and every day stressors. This life skill strengthens a child's inner resolve to overcome daily challenges.


3) SELF-CONTROL

         

          We're all human. Every day life can stress us out. But what might seem trivial to a grown up can sometimes overwhelm a child to the point they lash out in anger and frustration. Learning how to control those negative emotions and redirect them into positive action will help a child to feel more in control of their "world". It will allow him/her to use age-appropriate logic to handle most situations without negatively affecting themselves or those around them. This life skill teaches children not to let their anger get the better of them as well as ways to diffuse potential difficult situations.

4) PERSEVERANCE

          Some parents today are eager to give in when their child discovers things aren't going their way. Being overlooked for the school play, not being chosen for the baseball team, not coming in first place in the spelling bee. These are all "life lessons" for children to learn how to properly handle disappointments. If everything is given to them, how will they know what to do when LIFE throws them a curve ball later on? It's those times when children have "failed" at something that gives them the opportunity to see just how strong a spirit lies within them. Getting up and dusting themselves off after a disappointment, and trying even harder next time, encourages children to never settle for less than their best effort. This life skill teaches children to continue to strive for excellence in everything they do and to not settle for a mediocre life.

5) HELPING OTHERS

          Young children can often get caught up in the land of "me, me, me" which can sometimes exclude others. In these times of instant gratification, showing children the benefit of showing care and concern for others help them to understand they are part of a much larger community. Everything from helping with chores around the house or raking leaves for a neighbor to collecting items for senior centers and homeless shelters instill an attitude of courtesy for those in need. This life skill teaches compassion for fellow human beings and encourages a higher level of tolerance for the world around them.

6) SETTING PROPER GOALS 

          Life can be hard, even for young children, and the ability to set age-appropriate goals enables children to create a sense of order to their lives. Whether it's putting aside a portion of their weekly allowance for a much wanted toy or simply making homework time a priority over TV time each night creates the foundation to make the right choices later on when the goals will become even bigger. This life skill can be used in everything from making an A on a spelling test to choosing the right path for a successful college career and beyond.

7)  INTEGRITY

          Probably the hardest thing to teach a child is to have integrity in everything they do. The concept of saying no to your best friend who is making bad choices, or even standing up for the kid being picked on by the schoolyard bully can be daunting to explain. Children want to fit in and having the strength of character to stand out for what is right can be tough. This life skill is the core to who your children will become as adults and more importantly, what legacy they will leave behind for others when they're gone.

There are many more life skills all children should learn before they leave home, but those listed above give each child the best chance at becoming the best version of themselves possible. Programs like the martial arts encourage and help instill these types of life skills in all students, young and old, and are certainly worth looking into if you are wanting a supportive atmosphere for what you are already trying to teach your own children at home.



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WHICH WEBSITES ARE SAFE FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

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If you are the average parent you're going to worry about what or who is lurking on the internet, just waiting to tempt your child over to the dark side. You don't want to be one of those "helicopter" parents we've all read about, but you also want to keep your child safe as they begin to explore all that the World Wide Web has to offer them. So what's a parent to do?

The best thing you can do for your children is to do your research. Take a little time to see what's really available for your children to access from the computer. Depending on the age of your child, maybe computer time should be a joint venture. Even with older children, you want to monitor what they are watching on that screen and just who are they connecting with via cyberspace.

Below are some fun and educational websites your children might be interested in visiting. As the adult of the family, make sure to take time to check out these sites first to make sure it is the type of information you are wanting your children to access. There are many more family-friendly sites to share with young viewers, but for now, this is a good start!

www.abcmouse.com

www.pbskids.org

www.kids.gov

http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/

https://www.ready.gov/kids

http://amysmartgirls.com/

http://www.youngzine.org/

http://www.dawcl.com/

http://www.kidsknowit.com/

http://www.kidsclick.org/

http://4kids.org/

http://pbskids.org/lions/

http://www.deafplanet.com/splash.php
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

http://mocomi.com/

http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/

http://www.wonderville.ca/

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