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First Grade: An Invitation to Responsibility

First-grade teachers often tell us the changes children undergo between the time they enter first grade and when they graduate are monumental. Incrementally, students learn how to deal with more responsibility, and the expectations from parents, teachers, friends, relatives, and neighbors are greater than and different from those of previous years.

Chances are good you have already noticed changes in growth and maturity in your first grader. When a child enters first grade, she often develops a sense of confidence with this new status. Having made friends and gaining a better understanding of what to expect from teachers, first graders usually feel pretty good about the next stage of life.

What they don’t know is that things are about to change again. Upon starting first grade, the demands of school and life begin to ramp up to a whole new level. People they trust most—their teachers, parents, and friends—expect more from them now than they did before. First graders may experience homework for the first time and are capable of helping with more chores around the house. They may even be invited to spend the night with a friend—away from home. In a nutshell, your child will become in her eyes, a big kid.

First grade is possibly one of the first times your child will be given such a large amount of responsibility. We love the word responsibility because it’s one of those words that is self-defined. Responsibility is simply “the ability to respond.” Think of the first responders reporting to the scene of a fire or car accident. They have trained, prepared, and have the ability to respond to the crises in their communities. As adults, we also have the ability to respond to the situations we face in life. Whether it is the expectations of others, daily tasks, a crisis at work, or someone in need, we have many opportunities to respond with the love of Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful life skill to reach at this stage in your child’s development.

Responsibility may not sound like an exciting character trait to celebrate, but nothing could be further from the truth. Responsibility is fundamental to so many other amazing characteristics we all want for our children. Integrity, courage, bravery, work ethic, leadership, and sensitivity to others are all built on the foundation of responsibility.