We have made it to the last month of the 2020/2021 school year! And what a year it has been. This month’s character trait is Stewardship. Last year in the month of June we were all staying home and our character trait of stewardship was reflected in how we cared for those homes and perhaps also in our care for our bodies and minds as we tried to not go stir-crazy. This June, as we finish out the school year and ramp up for the summer ahead, full of possibilities, we may be feeling challenged in the stewardship of our time. Let’s work alongside our students this month to be good stewards of all that we are entrusted with.
SLOCA defines Stewardship as:
The careful and responsible management of things entrusted to one’s care, including one’s mind, body, time, money, environment, property, with proper regard to the rights of others.
Catchphrase: Take care of your stuff; take care of their stuff!
Forging Stewardship:
Use the questions and prompts below to discuss this month’s character trait with your family.
- Ask your kids if they can define stewardship. Have them give some examples of what it means.
- Why is stewardship important? What would happen if no one took care of their stuff, their bodies, their environment?
- Does stewardship mean you are only responsible for taking care of your own stuff? Why do we need to also “care for their stuff”?
- Can we care too much about our property, money, time, etc.? What does that look like?
- What does it mean to show “proper regard to the rights of others”?
- Spend time listing some of the things that have been entrusted to you.
- What are some ways you already take care of your mind? What are some ways you already take care of your body?
- How can we be good stewards of our environment? Be creative and see if you can implement any of your ideas.
- Reflect on stewardship and our study of American History this year. In what ways were our forefathers and predecessors good stewards of our nation? In what ways were they not? How can we be better stewards of our country and its citizens?
- Brainstorm ways your family can be good stewards of their time, money, bodies, etc. in the upcoming summer months. Consider making some goals or lists to keep you accountable.
- Discuss this quote by Aristotle in regards to stewardship. “What is common to many is taken least care of, for all men have greater regard for what is their own than for what they possess in common with others.”
Print Outs:
Stewardship: Full-Color Poster
How do you help your kids to learn stewardship? Share in the comments below!
