Good Stewardship

 
 

Narrative

Caring for others lays a foundation for healthy relationships. Kindness and empathy are developed by being thoughtful, generous, compassionate and respectful.

Caring for possessions: The goal is not to encourage materialism but to foster responsibility for our surroundings and good stewardship of our resources.

Illustration discussions:

  • What color is the rag the boy is using to polish? What should he do about the spilled polish on table?

  • What would you do to take care of Mr. & Mrs. Stick? What is he thinking about while working?

  • What else is in the cabinet? Is the polish safe?

Activities

  • Help children notice when a sibling or friend needs encouragement or a little cheering up: “Do you think Katie looks sad right now? I’ll bet she would feel better if she could talk with you about it.”

  • Teach and model good manners. Good manners convey a sense of respect for oneself and others, and play an important role in relationships and social interactions. Show little ones how the “magic words” – please, thank you, excuse me, and I’m sorry – result in better outcomes. Older kids can role-play situations in which constructive words and behavior encourage cooperation or resolve conflict.

  • Cultivate compassion for those in need -- elderly, the sick, the poor, the lonely. Let kids accompany you when visiting a shut-in neighbor, bringing a meal to a family that’s dealing with serious illness, or driving an elderly relative or friend to a doctor appointment. Help children feel the positive impact of these kindly acts: “Did you see how Mrs. Johnson’s face brightened when she opened the door and saw us? How did that make you feel?”

  • Walk around the house together and have the kids find things that need a little TLC to keep them in good condition: perhaps candlesticks need to be polished, a drawer handle needs to be tightened, or a torn book cover needs to be repaired. Make a list as you go, and let the kids help as much as possible with the work to be done. Little ones can hand you (safe) things; older kids can be your assistant or can tackle the tasks on their own if they are capable.

  • Help children learn to establish order in their surroundings. “A place for everything, and everything in its place” helps them form a habit of caring for their belongings, and also helps eliminate unnecessary purchases that must be made to replace items that can’t be found.

  • It’s easier to take care of possessions when we don’t have too many. From time to time help kids to go through their things and identify ones they no longer use. Give them options for what to do with the items; for example, toys they no longer play with could be given to another family or donated to a children’s hospital or family shelter. This also reinforces the principle of caring for others.