Responsibility

“Green week” is an annual initiative of the European Commission’s DG Environment. This year’s topic on Bio Diversity discusses sustainable growth and development.

A balance of production and consumption is necessary in order to ensure a sustainable future for the generations to come.

This is a high level discussion, which resonates in people with a sincere feeling of responsibility. But how does that develop?

Becoming accountable for one’s own actions actually develops from birth.
    
Just some small examples:

• A crawling baby is stimulated to go and get the toy that was just thrown aside
• A toddler puts the used plate in the bottom drawer of the dishwasher
• A preschool child puts the dirty washing in a basket and brings it to the laundry
• A primary child teaches multiples to a younger child
• A Middle School child organizes and caters for lunch for the whole group.
  

Both education and home life can assist in this development. When the adult feel insecure about children’s capabilities and does everything for them will they in turn become productive? Thinking children are able and allowing them to participate, create in the child a feeling of “I can do it myself” and “I am an important member in this group”.

Giving children relevant tasks and a level of control develops responsibility.

Then, when they have reached Middle School, they become very interested in the social and political level and want to contribute.

To use their words: “We want to make a difference in this world!”