essay kid friendly definition

What is Opinion Writing for Kids? A Beginner’s Guide

Opinion writing is a form of writing where you express your thoughts and feelings about a particular topic. It is a way to share your perspective on a subject and persuade others to see things from your point of view. Opinion writing is an important skill for kids to learn, as it helps them develop critical thinking and communication skills.

In opinion writing, you are encouraged to express your ideas and beliefs in a clear and concise manner. You can write about anything that interests you, from your favorite book to a current event. The key is to support your opinion with evidence and facts, and to present your argument in a logical and persuasive way. By learning how to write opinion pieces, kids can become more confident and effective communicators.

Understanding Opinion Writing

Definition of opinion writing.

Opinion writing is a type of writing in which you express your opinion or point of view on a topic. It is a way of sharing your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about a particular subject. In opinion writing, you are not just presenting facts, but also your own perspective on the topic. You can use evidence and examples to support your opinion, but your main goal is to convince the reader of your point of view.

Importance of Opinion Writing

Opinion writing is an important skill for kids to learn because it helps them develop critical thinking, communication, and persuasive skills. By expressing their opinions, kids learn how to organize their thoughts, use evidence to support their arguments, and communicate their ideas effectively. Opinion writing also helps kids develop empathy and understanding of different viewpoints, as they learn to consider other perspectives and respond to opposing arguments.

In addition, opinion writing can be a fun and engaging way for kids to express themselves creatively and explore their own interests and passions. It can be a way to share their thoughts on a variety of topics, from current events and social issues to books, movies, and video games.

Overall, opinion writing is an important skill that can benefit kids in many ways. By expressing their opinions and learning how to persuade others, kids can develop their communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and creativity.

Components of Opinion Writing

Opinion writing is a type of writing where you express your thoughts and feelings about a particular topic. It is important to know the components of opinion writing so that you can write a clear and effective piece.

Stating Your Opinion

The first component of opinion writing is stating your opinion. This means that you need to clearly state what you think about the topic you are writing about. You can do this by writing a thesis statement, which is a sentence that summarizes your opinion.

For example, if you are writing about whether or not kids should have to wear school uniforms, your thesis statement might be, “I believe that kids should not have to wear school uniforms because it limits their self-expression.”

Supporting Your Opinion

The second component of opinion writing is supporting your opinion. This means that you need to provide reasons and evidence to support your opinion. You can do this by using facts, statistics, examples, and personal experiences.

For example, if you are writing about why you think kids should not have to wear school uniforms, you might provide reasons such as:

• School uniforms limit kids’ self-expression
• School uniforms can be expensive for families
• School uniforms do not necessarily improve academic performance

Concluding Your Opinion

The final component of opinion writing is concluding your opinion. This means that you need to wrap up your piece by restating your opinion and summarizing your reasons and evidence. You can also provide a call to action or a final thought.

For example, if you are concluding your opinion piece about school uniforms, you might write something like:

“In conclusion, I believe that kids should not have to wear school uniforms. By limiting self-expression and being expensive for families, school uniforms do not necessarily improve academic performance. It’s important for schools to consider alternative dress codes that allow for more individuality and creativity among students.”

Examples of Opinion Writing for Kids

Opinion writing is a type of writing where you express your thoughts and feelings about a particular topic. It is an opportunity for you to share your personal perspective on a subject, and it can be a fun and engaging way to practice your writing skills. Here are a few examples of opinion writing for kids:

Example 1: Movie Reviews

Movie reviews are a great way to practice opinion writing. After watching a movie, you can write a review sharing your thoughts and feelings about the film. You can talk about the plot, the characters, the setting, and anything else that stood out to you. Remember to use evidence from the movie to support your opinion, and to be respectful of other people’s opinions if they disagree with you.

Example 2: Book Reviews

Book reviews are similar to movie reviews, but instead of writing about a movie, you write about a book. You can talk about the characters, the plot, the writing style, and anything else that you liked or didn’t like about the book. Again, it’s important to use evidence from the book to support your opinion, and to be respectful of other people’s opinions.

Example 3: Editorial Writing

Editorial writing is a type of opinion writing where you write about a current event or issue. You can express your thoughts and feelings about the topic, and you can also suggest solutions or ways to address the issue. Editorial writing can be a powerful way to make your voice heard and to advocate for change.

Remember, when writing an opinion piece, it’s important to have a clear thesis statement that states your opinion, to use evidence to support your opinion, and to be respectful of other people’s opinions. With practice, you can become a skilled opinion writer and share your unique perspective with the world.

Tips for Writing an Opinion Piece

Writing an opinion piece can be a fun and exciting way to express your thoughts and ideas. Here are some tips to help you write a great opinion piece.

Choosing a Topic

The first step in writing an opinion piece is to choose a topic that you feel strongly about. It could be something you have experienced, seen, or heard about in the news. Make sure it’s a topic that you can research and gather information on to support your argument.

Using Persuasive Language

When writing an opinion piece, it’s important to use persuasive language to convince your reader of your point of view. Use strong and clear language to express your ideas and opinions. Use examples and evidence to support your argument and make it more convincing.

Staying Focused

It’s important to stay focused on your topic and not get sidetracked. Make sure your writing stays on topic and doesn’t wander off into other areas. Use clear and concise sentences to get your point across.

In summary, writing an opinion piece can be a great way to express your thoughts and ideas. Choose a topic that you feel strongly about, use persuasive language, and stay focused on your topic. With these tips, you can write a great opinion piece that will get your message across.

In conclusion, opinion writing is a fun and creative way for kids to express their thoughts and feelings about a particular topic. By using persuasive language and strong arguments, kids can convince their readers to agree with their point of view.

Remember, when writing an opinion piece, it’s important to clearly state your opinion and provide reasons to support it. Use examples and evidence to back up your arguments and make sure to address any counterarguments that may arise.

Additionally, it’s important to consider your audience and their perspective. Think about what they may already know or believe about the topic and tailor your writing to appeal to them.

Overall, opinion writing is a valuable skill for kids to develop as it encourages critical thinking, effective communication, and confidence in expressing one’s own ideas. So go ahead and start writing your own opinion pieces – your voice matters!

Kids Who Learn

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Essay facts for kids

An essay is a written text . It is usually about the personal point of view of the author who wrote it. The definition of an essay is vague. Articles and short stories can be quite similar. Almost all modern essays are written in prose , but works in verse have been called essays (e.g. Alexander Pope 's An Essay on Criticism and An Essay on Man ). People that write essays are called essayists.

Most essays are short. This does not have to be the case. John Locke 's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Thomas Malthus 's An Essay on the Principle of Population are long essays.

Essays can have all sorts of purposes. For example, an essay can be very argumentative, it can talk about points for and against the essay question to give a balanced argument or opinion. Essay must be essential and give some new points about topics. Its must be useful to readers.

Argumentative Essay

Thesis essay, images for kids.

• argument led approach. An argumentative essay is a critical piece of writing, aimed at presenting objective view of a subject matter. It is narrowed down to a single topic.
• thesis led approach. A thesis statement based essay follows a thesis which supports a particular case.
• cause and effect,
• problem and solution,
• comparison and contrast,
• description,
• classification,
• argument and evidence,
• procedural sequence,
• chronological ordering.

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by coherence, logical arguments, evidential support, and a conclusion. Some examples of argument essay topics are 'Is polygamy evil or not?', 'Are US elections always fair?'

This is a genre of essay where a stance is presented in an essay using a thesis statement. A thesis statement is one or more sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay, such as an expository essay or argumentative essay. It makes a claim, directly answering a question. The thesis statement serves as a guide for the readers throughout the whole entire essay.

Essays of Michel de Montaigne

John Locke 's 1690 An Essay Concerning Human Understanding .

Malthus' Essay on the Principle of Population

University students , like these students doing research at a university library, are often assigned essays as a way to get them to analyze what they have read.

An 1895 cover of Harpers , a US magazine that prints a number of essays per issue.

"After School Play Interrupted by the Catch and Release of a Stingray" is a simple time-sequence photo essay.

• This page was last modified on 16 October 2023, at 16:53. Suggest an edit .

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Oct 15, 2022

What is Responsibility for Kids and Why is it Important?

As a parent, one of the essential skills we hope to teach our children is how to be responsible. Understanding the value of accountability and actively making responsible choices can help them reach their full potential when they’re older.

That sounds fantastic, but how do you help your children learn to be responsible?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to teaching responsibility, there are a few strategies you can use to help them learn as they grow and mature. Here, we provide a child-friendly definition of responsibility you can share with your kids and five ways to teach them to be responsible.

What is Responsibility?

The concept of responsibility can be challenging for kids to comprehend. To make it easier, we’ve narrowed it down and created a quick and easy checklist to help kids understand what it means to be responsible.

In its simplest form, a responsibility definition for gradeschool kids goes like this: 1

• Being trustworthy
• Making thoughtful decisions
• Taking ownership of your actions and promises 

If you teach the basics of responsibility to your children, hopefully, they’ll be able to check off all three boxes as they grow. Having all of those qualities can help set them up for personal, academic, and financial success in the future. 

When it comes to preschoolers, responsibility may take a different form. Since preschool children are still in the early stages of learning and adapting to their surroundings, responsibility can be as simple as teaching your child to clean up their toys after playtime.

Teaching Responsibility to Kids

When you’re teaching responsibility, think of you , and your child as a team of turtles rather than a couple of hares—slow and steady wins the race. It’s not done all at once but rather over a period of time.

Try to begin when your children are young, taking baby steps to teach them the importance of personal responsibility. You can do this in a few different ways, including:

Modeling responsible behavior

Remember the expression “monkey see, monkey do”? It applies perfectly here. In order to learn how to become a responsible child, it can help to act like a responsible adult around them.

Your children learn so many of their own behaviors based on how they see you interact with the world. Exude the responsible qualities you want them to learn by setting an example.

For instance, if you don’t want them to litter, always remember to throw your trash away and explain why it’s important to do so. Elaborate on the why behind the what. Explain why throwing your trash away is not only important for the environment but also a responsible choice for yourself and others.

Allowing them to demonstrate their understanding

Learning responsibility doesn't have to stop at acting as a good influence around them. While modeling responsible behaviors can set the groundwork for your little one, it’s essential to allow them to show you they can also be responsible. We know it’s scary giving them responsibility at a young age, but they can’t truly learn how to be accountable unless you let them get their feet wet.

Rather than throwing their trash away for them, let them throw it away on their own. Be sure they know why it’s the responsible choice. Before you know it, your child may clean up after themselves without you asking. 

5 Ways To Teach Kids Responsibility

If you feel like now’s the time, go ahead and rip off that bandaid. Let them dip their toes in the waters of responsibility. Show them the water’s warm and inviting.

Don’t just drop them into the deep end, though—they are kids, after all. You can help ease them into completing responsible tasks by choosing one of the activities below and following these guidelines:

• Give them simple instructions to set them up for success.
• Be available to help when they need it.
• Check in regularly to monitor their progress.

Here are five activities that’ll help teach your children the importance of personal responsibility (be sure to choose one that’s age appropriate for your little ones):

#1 Let Them Care for a Pet (If You Have One)

 If you’ve got a furry friend at home, this is the perfect opportunity to let your little one become their primary caretaker. Take them through the basics:

• Show your child how much and how often to feed them.
• Once they’ve mastered the feeding schedule, add on other pet-related responsibilities like walking or cleaning a fish bowl.
• If your child shows a real aptitude for pet care, introduce them to the fine art of training.  

If you live in a pet-free home, you can always opt to buy them a pet fish. They can feed them and make sure the water stays clean. 1

#2 Teach Them The Value of a Dollar

Money can seem like a mystery to kids who haven’t yet had to buy and pay for things themselves. You can help them to learn the value of money by including them in a few small errands or tasks each week where money is involved. For example, when you’re at the grocery store, tell your kids you want to spend a certain amount of money on an item—such as veggies or cereal—and ask them to help you find the one you’ll buy. Doing so can help them to grasp the idea of a budget, even if they’re not ready to build their own just yet.

#3 Plan and Follow a Schedule

These days, children have jam-packed schedules. From soccer practice three times a week to tests in multiple subjects in one day, it’s a lot to remember. You can teach them organizational and time management skills by writing and following their weekly schedule. Consider making a visual schedule for your child and help them fill out their to-do list each week, having them check off activities each day as they’re completed. 2 Following a schedule is also a great way to help establish a morning routine for kids ––but it’s also easier said than done. Keep in mind that it’s okay to take small steps in creating a routine. Don’t forget to take a deep breath to help clear your mind and focus on you and your family’s top priorities for the day ahead.

#4 Instill a No-Blame Policy at Home

Part of being responsible means being accountable for your actions and accepting the consequences. What better way to teach this than to lead by example? Next time something doesn’t go your way, try these steps:

• Take a breath.
• Decide how much of the situation you’re at fault for. 
• Verbally own your part in it.
• Articulate the actionable steps you’ll take to resolve it. 

This will let your kids know you can come up with more responsible solutions if you’re not blaming others.

#5 Give Them Age-Appropriate Chores

Household chores for kids are an excellent way to teach the value of responsibility. From toddlers to high schoolers, there’s an age-appropriate chore for everyone, like putting away toys or setting the table. Giving your kids chores shows them you’re entrusting them with something important, which can make them feel valued and boost their self-esteem.

Make the Responsible Choice—Teach Your Children Responsibility With Slumberkins

Learning how to be responsible takes time and practice. That’s why it’s essential to model the fundamentals of responsibility when they’re little. This way, when you’re ready to give them their own responsibilities, they’ve got a solid foundation to set them up for success.

There’s always an opportunity to teach kids responsibility. Whether you’re discussing responsible behavior or engaging in other important conversations with your younger kid or older child, Slumberkins is here to support you. With fuzzy friends (like our unicorn plush and bigfoot plush ) and helpful books for every occasion, we’ve got the tools to help your children understand important topics—from self-esteem and conflict resolution for kids to self-expression and building connections.

Check out our collections and and watch our Slumberkins show on Apple TV+ to open up a whole new magical world of communication for you and your little one.

• Farnsworth Finn, Jamie. "Developing responsibility in kids: Here's what to know." Today. 1 February, 2020.   https://www.today.com/parenting-guides/developing-responsibility-kids-ages-8-11-t179128
• "15 Tips to Raise a Responsible Child." Aha! Parenting.  https://www.peacefulparenthappykids.com/read/responsibility

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What is Responsibility?

A definition of responsibility in simple words for children

Responsibility means you do the things you are supposed to do.

What is responsibility? We have a few different ways that we talk about responsibility. There’s being responsible, taking responsibility, acting responsibly, and having responsibilities. In simple words, responsibility is about doing the things we are supposed to do, and accepting the positive or negative outcomes of our actions.

Responsibility means you do the things you are supposed to do and accept the results of your actions.

• A responsibility: something you are expected to do
• Being responsible: doing the things you are supposed to do
• Accepting responsibility: taking the praise or the blame for something you have done

For more about responsibility, scroll down:

What is a responsibility, what is a consequence.

• Why is being responsible important?
• Examples of responsibilities and consequences

A responsibility is something you are expected to do. A responsibility might be a task you are expected to do. For example, your parents expect you to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth is “a responsibility” and it is your responsibility to brush your teeth every day. Another example is that your teacher expects you to finish your homework on time and to do your best job. So it’s your responsibility to do your homework and to do it to the best of your abilities. A responsibility might be a way you are expected to act. For example, your parents expect that if you go to play at the park, you will play in a way that won’t seriously hurt yourself or someone else. It’s your responsibility to have fun in a safe and courteous way.

A consequence is the result or outcome of our actions. Consequences can be positive (good) or negative (not good). For example, if you are supposed to do your chores by Sunday at 5:00 and you get them done, the consequence of your actions is that you get paid and your parents are happy with you. In another example, if you leave your bike behind your dad’s car and he doesn’t see it and runs over it, the consequence of your action is that your bike is ruined.

Examples of responsibility and consequences

Responsibility example 1: feeding the dog.

Responsibility: Each morning you are expected to feed the dog. Consequence if you are responsible: First, the dog has a full belly and is healthy. Second, your parents know they can trust you to do what you say you will do and will be more likely to give you space and freedom to manage your own time. Consequence if you are irresponsible (not responsible): First, the dog is hungry and long-term you could harm the dog’s health. Second, your parents are disappointed and feel they have to check up on you and control your behavior more.

Responsibility Example 2: Being Home On Time

Responsibility: You meet your friends at the park to play and are expected to be home by 5:30. Consequence if you are responsible: You set an alarm on your watch and make sure you leave the park with enough time to get home by 5:30. Your mom is confident you are safe and well and she trusts you to go to the park and hang with your friends next time. Consequence if you are irresponsible: You lose track of time and don’t get home until 6:00. Your mom has had 30 minutes to worry about where you are and now she’s upset. She says next time you can only go to the park if your big brother can go with you and supervise. You lost freedom and independence.

Example 3: Using the Internet safely

Responsibility: Taking care of your personal safety. Each of us is responsible for our own personal safety, which means we are expected not to do things that put ourselves in danger. Because of this, teachers and parents expect kids to use the Internet responsibly. They teach kids how to only view sites that are safe and they expect kids to avoid sites where they might find content that isn’t appropriate or healthy for young people. Being responsible in how we use the Internet, means we do as teachers and parents instruct and only go to the siteas we know are safe. Consequence if you are responsible: You see content that is safe and don’t interact with people who might want to do you harm. Your parents and teachers can trust you to use the computer by yourself. Consequence if you are irresponsible: You may see things that aren’t healthy for a young person to see, or you might interact with people who want to hurt you. Your parents and teachers take away your freedom on the Internet and you must ask for permission and only use the computer when you have an adult watching you.

Why responsibilty is important

To understand why responsibility is important, think about what life would be like if people don't act responsibly. If no one does what they say they will do, how can anyone trust each other? If no one is responsible about cleaning up after themselves how could we live in a healthy environment? If parents aren't responsible for their kids, and kids aren't responible with their chores or homework... what would happen? What if other kids at the park weren't responsible and played in a dangerous way? All of us in society need to act with responsibilty if we want to live safely together.

More Definitions

•   What is Conscience?
•   What is Empathy?
•   What is Honesty?
•   What is Grit?
•   What is Perseverance?
•   What is Respect?
•   What is Responsibility?
•   What is Self-esteem?
•   What is Character?
•   What are Social Skills?

Colleen Doyle Bryant

Colleen Doyle Bryant is the author of five books and more than 50 learning resources about making good choices for the right reasons. Her Talking with Trees series for elementary students and Truth Be Told Quotes series for teens are used in curricula around the world. Rooted in Decency , Colleen’s most recent release, written for an adult audience, explores how the decline in common decency is affecting wellbeing, and how we can build more trust and cooperation. Learn more at ColleenDoyleBryant.com

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