Taking Responsibility

GOOD HABITS (Section #2) – Week 3

Start the lesson by gathering your students into a tight huddle and ask these three questions:

What does it mean to have good habits?
Why is it important to have good habits?
Can you give me an example of having good habits?

Then share the following story or lesson and ask the questions listed.

This week we are going to talk about always taking Responsibility For Your Actions.

Once there were two kids and you were one of them – we’ll call the other one Larry. Now you and Larry were playing together and Larry’s mom came over and started to scold him for not getting his chores done. Larry quickly pointed at you and said that you had begged him to play.
Was Larry trying to blame you for him not getting his chores done?
Was Larry being honest?
Were Larry’s actions like those of a responsible adult or a little kid?

Instead of trying to blame you, he said, “Thanks for reminding me mom. I’ll get right on that,” as he left for home?

What would you think of him then?

Do you know someone who always make excuses for themselves or blames others for their actions? With habits like those, it is hard to ever accomplish anything.

The day you take responsibility for your actions, good or bad, is the day you start to become successful. The next time something goes wrong, don’t look for excuses or blame others. Think about what you can do to make it better and how you can avoid having it happen again.

Let’s try it. I’ll give you some examples and you take responsibility.

Example #1 – You forgot to do your homework and are watching your favorite TV program when your mom says, “Honey did you get all your homework done?” What would a responsible person say and do?

Possible Response – “Thanks for reminding me, I’ll do it now,” as you turn off the TV.

Example #2 – Your mom finds the plate you accidentally broke while playing with the dog and says in a real mad voice, “Who broke my plate?” What would a responsible person say and do?

Possible Response – “I did it while I was playing with the dog, I’m sorry.”

Everyone repeat after me, “I am responsible for my actions!”