Note to parent or teacher: Here’s a 30- to 40-minute lesson plan highlighting the following learning objectives: “Understand that being responsible for something shows maturity and generates trust.” (Character Building: Personal Responsibility: Responsibility-2a) 

Discuss the meaning of “maturity.” One dictionary lists it as the full development of someone or something. Children, therefore, are on the path to becoming fully developed adults.

Talk about how the goal with any kind of instruction that you give is to help your children grow into mature people capable of making their own wise and responsible decisions for themselves. Ask the children if they can list some actions of a mature individual, whether child or adult.

For example, a mature individual…

• takes responsibility for his mistakes
• doesn’t need someone to remind him to brush his teeth or perform some other basic means of personal care
• is able to control his emotions
• makes wise choices, thinking about what would benefit him most in the future, versus only what might be nice in the present

Read “Are Daily Decisions Really that Important?” Discuss how the choices one makes daily either accelerate or hinder growing in maturity.

The following articles provide tips for developing more maturity:

• Read “Choose Things of Value: Beating the ‘It’s Not Fair’.”
• Read “Choose Things of Value: Stepping Stones for the Next Big Thing.”
• Read “Crazily Cool Card Set: Faithfulness.”
• Read “Power-Up Devotional #12: Spirit Fruit: Self-Control.”

Print out, color and cut out “Crazily Cool Card Set: Training for Excellence.” Have your child choose one verse from this set to memorize today.

Additional resources:

• “From 9 to 19?”