Teaching Accountability in Early Childhood Education

EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY AND NOBODY

There were four people - Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it but Nobody did.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realized that Everybody would not do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.

Sigh.
I remember reading this little story along time ago. When I became a director I made a copy and posted in the staff room. Humor always was a handy rubber sword to get a point across.
Teaching young children accountability really requires personal awareness on my part. When I am organized and aware of what my values are for the classroom and the children the preschool curriculum not only falls into place but everything seems to run much smoother. Like a well oiled machine.
Who would have thought children so young could care, work together, and take incentive to be accountable just because they were shown how?
We all have our moments of course, but the Somebody that could have been Anybody definitely has an opportunity to take part in what Everybody once thought Nobody was capable of.
Teamwork.