Our ‘being responsible’ discussion prompts introduce the concept of personal responsibility, and the effect on others and the world about us. These themes run through many Spid the Spider adventures. In Spid the Spider Has  a Day Off Spid gets distracted on his way to visit his friends with adverse consequences. Thus he learns an important lesson. In Spid the Spider Helps Save the Planet he recognises the irresponsibility of others on his environment and decides to do something about it.

Helping children understand that they are personally and primarily responsible for their actions, and appreciate the consequences of their actions, helps encourage good citizens. It also inspires confidence, well-being, better relationships, and greater success in life. When they understand that their actions have positive consequences it will also help them realise that they too can make a difference.

In what areas of your life are you responsible?

This question is designed to help children think about the concept of responsibility and what this means to them and others around them?  Areas where children may be responsible include:

  • keeping their rooms clean and tidy (thus helping mum and dad, and potentially helping themselves have tidy minds)
  • caring for and cleaning their pet’s homes (thus helping care for their pets, improve their quality of life, keep them healthy and safe)
  • tending gardens and vegetable plots (helping produce food, encourage wild-life, e.g., bees, and support the food chain (encouraging pollination, making honey)
  • cleaning bicycles (preventing rust, erosion, making the bicycle work, so they can get to school, after-school activities or friend’s homes more easily)
  • doing homework on time and to the best of one’s ability (helping selves learn, grow, succeed in life, helping teacher help you …)

To draw out the consequences of what children say, ask them ‘so what does this mean?’ … (and probe for themselves, and for others). Keep asking this question until the child or class runs out of answers …

Here are some benefits in being responsible.

How do you feel when people aren’t on time?

This question is designed to help children think about the consequences of ‘being late’ on others. Start by listing things they have agreed to do with someone else at specific times. Then work through how they would feel if that someone was ‘late’ …

  • meet someone to walk or drive, or catch a bus, to school
  • take part on a team sports game or match e.g., football, netball
  • go the cinema

Feelings could include worry, stress, anxiety, loss of control, possibly anger, offence, hurt …

Discussion could then focus on how to be on time, take responsibility for being of time. For example, via pre-planning, planning ahead, electronic devices, writing reminder notes, tying a knot in handkerchief, etc.

How can we be responsible for our planet?

Because of the complex nature of our ecosystem, there are many inter-related factors to address. Thus to answer ‘how we can be responsible’ it is helpful to first consider ‘why be responsible’? Here is a simple summary of reasons for taking planetary responsibility. They include the growing evidence of the adverse actions of our species on the planet:

  • global warming; the rise in ‘greenhouse gases’ most notably carbon dioxide (C02), but also methane (CH4) and other gases in the atmosphere  spurred by industrialisation, transport and heating systems, and causing drought, famine and more
  • deforestation; spurred by replacing forests with agricultural land.
  • pollution causing loss of habitats
  • hunting contributing to species extinction.
  • using up the earth’s resources, for example minerals, metals, organic compounds.

These reasons ultimately impact the health of all species including humans.  Your children are likely to be ‘aware’ of many of the ‘whys’ from media coverage and thus able to elaborate. You can help them work out the causes, and associated effects.

The range of ways we can be responsible is equally large. They include taking individual, societal, Governmental, and inter-Governmental and global responsibility.

Thus far, the United Nations, and the 193 countries have agreed to 17 sustainable development goals.  These goals build on decades of work by many countries as well as the UN. The UN is tasked to report every four years on progress. Here is their 2023 progress report.  You can do your bit, as Spid does, to champion a cleaner planet, and support World Clean Up Day.

  • Download our free 'being responsible discussion prompts
  • Download our free 'being responsible discussion prompts

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