Appropriate age group(s):
K-5

Values taught:
Life is full of choices. Only you can decide which choices are best for you. But remember, when you do make a choice you are also accepting responsibility for the outcome. You can choose not to do your homework but then you're also choosing not to learn, possible detention and a failing grade. You can choose to tell a lie to your friend but then you're also choosing to lose that friend's trust and ultimately their friendship.

How can you help your kids make better responsible choices? Ask them to make a timeline of what they think will be some of the most important choices they will have to make in their lifetime. Tell them to put ages and dates next to them. Ask them what they think they can do to prepare ahead of time for these choices and have them write it down. Discuss how one choice may impact the others.

Sit down and do your own life timeline. See if you can parallel your child's timeline with your real life experiences. Discuss with them the choices you made and how they impacted other areas of your life.

Description of technique for teaching kids values:
Save these timelines for your kids in a safe place (your millenium time capsule if you have one). It will be interesting for them to look back at the perspective they had on their life as they get older.