EDITION 5 ISSUE 5

As we nurture and guide our children, one of the most valuable lessons we can impart is the importance of responsibility. Teaching children to be responsible helps them grow into dependable and thoughtful individuals.

Being responsible means making choices that are good for oneself and others. It involves recognising that their actions have consequences and understanding the importance of being reliable and trustworthy.

Here are some effective strategies to encourage responsibility in our children.

ENCOURAGE LOOKING AFTER BELONGINGS
Teach children to take pride in their belongings. This can be done by helping them learn to make their beds, organise toys, and maintain a clean room. A tidy environment raises a sense of responsibility and independence. Show them how to treat their toys, books, and clothes with respect. Encourage them to think about how to repair or replace items they break or lose.

INSTIL THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOW-THROUGH
Following through on commitments is a key aspect of responsibility. Creating chore charts and ensuring that our children complete their tasks on time is one way in which they can learn follow-through. Encourage them to finish their homework by setting a routine. Help them understand the importance of completing homework. Rewarding them after completing a certain number of chores or completing homework at a certain time every day will encourage and motivate children even more to follow through.

GUIDE THEM IN MAKING WISE CHOICES
Encourage them to pray before making decisions and seek God’s guidance. James 1:5 reminds us, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. Teaching them to seek God’s direction is crucial.

Talk about the importance of choosing who they want to surround themselves with. They need to understand the difference in the consequences of surrounding themselves with others who uplift them and reflect godly values and those that who encourage negative behaviour. Even King Solomon advises concerning this matter in Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

ENCOURAGE HELPING OTHERS
Instilling a sense of community and kindness in our children is a very important part of learning responsibility and through learning to serve others your children learn to embody the heart of Christ. Encourage them to participate in community services as a family, showing them how to love their neighbours. Teach them how to look for opportunities to help others. They will learn to focus on the needs of those around them rather than themselves. Demonstrate kindness and responsibility in your own actions. Children mimic their parents’ behaviour. In the sermon on the mount Jesus teaches us the importance of our actions when He commands us to Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

SET GOALS TOGETHER
Goal setting is a fantastic way for children to practice responsibility. As Christians we can help our children set goals that align with their values, whether it’s memorising Bible verses or engaging in acts of service.

Work with the children to set personal goals, whether it’s finishing a book, learning a new skill, or improving in a sport. If the children find it difficult or discouraging to set goals, help them break their goals into smaller, manageable steps. Celebrate their achievements along the way to keep them motivated.

Building responsibility in our children is vital for their spiritual and personal development. By teaching them to be responsible we equip them to reflect Christ in their lives. Let’s work together in raising responsible children who honour God and positively impact the world around them.

Source: The AI assistant. 2024. ChatGPT Date of access: 04 November 2024

It is quite common to find a child in the classroom who is knowledgeable about a particular topic. The child knows more about space, dinosaurs, F1 racing, soccer or horses than his/her classmates. On the other hand, it is quite rare to find a child who knows his/her Bible – they know the answers to questions such as:

Who was Joash?
What were the Benjamite warriors known for?
What made Noa so different to other Biblical women?
Who was the charioteer who drove like a madman?
Which verse should grumblers and complainers remember?

Why should children know more about God’s word than any other subject?

God’s word is vital to our well-being. Food and water nourish the physical body and God’s word nourishes the soul and spirit.
Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4

God’s word contains the secret to eternal life and the principles we need to apply to lead a successful life on earth.

God’s word is true. Our world is constantly changing. Standards of right and wrong seem fluid. Many things are debatable – even gender, but God’s word is true. It will always be something children can fall back on throughout their lives.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

God’s word helps with everyday life. The Bible is full of relevant messages for children today – how to deal with bullies, being kind or why it’s important to obey your parents. For example, if they’re struggling to be kind to someone, teach them Ephesians 4:32.

God’s word brings clarity. There are times in life where we are faced with situations where the path ahead seems unclear, but God’s word anchors us and brings light and clarity to life’s choices and decisions.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

Do not make the mistake of assuming that children cannot understand the Bible. The Bible is for children, too.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 19:14.

Lofty yet not arrogant. This is when we strive for exceptional results and continuous improvement with a humble mindset. Failing 1009 times surely smashed Mr Colonel Sanders’ ego but since he was on a mission to achieve excellence, he did not give up. Today his result is well known worldwide, even though he no longer is. What a legacy!

It is common knowledge that having a mission helps to achieve a goal or vision. Surely, then, one’s attitude will be significant on daily a basis. A choice between self-centeredness and excellence needs to be made.

When self-centredness is the driving force, will one be able to embrace failure? Will a child that does not and possibly cannot achieve well according to your ‘ego’ scale be safe in your hands?  Unless that child has an attitude of excellence, the child will be wounded.

Demonstrating this attitude might be costly. It could mean criticism when other parties voice their opinion(s) about you for going the extra mile. It could also mean that you let others pass you and perform ahead of you. Most importantly, this will mean that you have been ‘chosen’ and you are special!

If you are chosen you will be refined and therefore will be willing to be corrected and to do better next time. As parents, guardians and teachers we have been entrusted with our children and therefore ought to have this attitude of striving for excellence. It is expected of us to go the extra mile, to act wisely and at the right time.

An excellent time to test whether we have this attitude has arrived. We have worked hard throughout the year and met up with challenges, but we have not given up (or have we?) Will our children make it after the examination? Will they represent us well wherever they are? How will we react? Let us refuse to be proud but pursue excellence by giving it all to the Lord Jesus.

He is our role model, born in Bethlehem – a lowly place, yet the Son of God. He lived a humble life wherever he went. Imagine the King of kings being spat at! He knew it would only lift Him up to His ultimate goal of saving you and me.

As we are awaiting the fruit of our labour and our investments in our children this year, let us adore Christ the King. He will help us for He has been through it all.

Source: https://medium.com/at-pace-with-the-times/excellence-is-not-a-skill-it-is-an-attitude-7c869955716a

At a recent school function, it was emphasised that Domino Servite School enforces a strict no-cell phone policy. Learners may not bring cell phones to school or any school events. While many schools in South Africa permit cell phone use under certain conditions – such as during breaks or for educational purposes under teacher supervision – DSS believes in a completely phone-free environment, and for good reason.

Research shows a concerning link between excessive social media use and poorer mental health, lower life satisfaction and even self-harm, especially among youth. Studies indicate that the design of social media platforms encourages addictive behaviour, leading to negative outcomes for young people (Abi-Jaoude et al: 2020).

But the dangers are not limited to social media. Internet addiction (IA), or excessive and uncontrollable internet use, also pose significant dangers. According to Zayed (2024), this dependency often leads individuals to neglect essential aspects of their lives, such as relationships and self-care. Symptoms of internet addiction include neglecting responsibilities, social isolation, sleep disruption, and shifts in mood, all of which can result in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Although as adults we may convince ourselves that we are able to handle cell phone-use responsibly, research indicates that not everyone is equally susceptible to internet addiction. Therefore, our children may not be able to be as responsible in their cell phone-use as we would like to believe. Environmental factors, such as a lack of offline social support or exposure to stressful life events, can also contribute to increased internet use, while certain online activities, especially gaming, tend to be more addictive.

Gaming addiction poses significant dangers, often resulting in social isolation and neglect of responsibilities, and can disrupt sleep patterns, reduce physical activity, and provoke irritability and mood swings.

As the holiday season approaches and learners will be at home for an extended period, it’s crucial for us to take note of these dangers and to support a controlled electronic environment at home. Limiting our children’s screen time can significantly benefit their mental health and academic performance. Instead of turning to screens for entertainment, parents can help devise alternative activities, such as reading, outdoor sports or spending quality time with friends.

In conclusion, by supporting a conservative approach to technology use, both at school and home, we can work together to help learners cultivate healthier habits and ensure improved academic performance in 2025.

Sources
Abi-Jaoude et al. 2020. Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health.
[Web:] Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health – PMC (nih.gov) (Date of access: 15 October 2024)
The AI assistant. 2024. ChatGPT (Date of access: 14 October 2024)
Zayed, A. 2024. Impact of internet addiction on mental health: potential impact and therapies. [Web:] Impact of internet addiction on mental health: potential impact and therapies – The Diamond Rehab Thailand (Date of access: 15 October 2024)

As both a parent and teacher I often think long and hard about how I can teach my children to be both grateful and responsible in an era of entitlement. How can we teach our children accountability for their actions? In an age of instant gratification, how do we prevent our children from feeling that the world owes them something and they deserve special treatment?

Children have numerous rights: the right to family care, love and protection; a right to a good quality education; a right to a clean environment; a right to adequate nutrition and medical care and much more – which are all absolutely essential and indispensable – but how do our children learn that what is done for them is also a gift and should be received with gratitude and humility?

Are we afraid to say no? Saying no from time to time to children’s many requests can teach them important lessons about delayed gratification, perseverance, and the value of hard work. Saying no to a child’s request to buy something just ‘because everyone else has it’ can help children develop patience, resilience, and a sense of accomplishment.

Are we able to train our children to realise that serving others brings greater satisfaction than being served? Are we able to help them realise that focusing only on material possessions can lead to unhappiness and a lack of appreciation for the simple things of life.

Let’s help our children take ownership for their lapses in judgement, mistakes and even their learning.

‘Let me give you a typical school scenario: Johnny’s homework book is not signed. When the teacher asks why, the response is, ‘Oh, my mother forgot to sign it.’ While this might be true, wouldn’t it be great if Johnny would take it upon himself to make sure his homework book is signed, rather than passing the blame.

Another example: Kevin did not do his Maths homework because he left class halfway through the Maths lesson to play soccer at Wartburg. Did Kevin know he was going to a soccer match during Maths? Yes. Did he know that the class would continue with work and probably get homework? Yes. Could he have asked the teacher before he left if there was any work he’d miss/homework he should know about/worksheet or notes that would be distributed? Yes.

By taking initiative and ownership for his learning, Kevin would be benefiting himself by being up to date in the next Maths lesson, and when the test comes around, he would be ready and have more chance of success.

Studies demonstrate that children who have an intrinsic sense of responsibility for their own learning will stand the greatest chances of succeeding in any area of their life.

I hope you will join me in realising that I too am responsible and accountable and it is from this perspective that I want to train my children in these sound values.