Rock vs. Sponge | Attentiveness Character Time Activity

Attentiveness is: “Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided attention.” This means that you can show that someone or something is important by paying close attention to them.

Supplies needed:
2-3 different shaped and colored rocks
A sponge
A bowl of water
A hand towel

Give your child the rocks and the sponge. Let them hold and feel the items and tell you what differences they notice. Have your child put the rocks and sponge into the bowl of water. Leave them in for a few seconds, and then take them out and put them on the towel. Have your child squeeze the items over the bowl and see what happens.

Talk About It: While both the rocks and the sponge were wet when you took them out of the water, the rocks didn’t absorb the water. In life, we can choose to be like the rocks or the sponge. No matter how long you leave the rocks in the water, they won’t absorb it; they will just get wet on the outside. We are like the rocks if we are being inattentive to the people and things around us, aren’t paying attention, or aren’t taking things in. It doesn’t matter if we look like we’re paying attention or not. The rocks might have looked wet, but that didn’t change the fact that they didn’t actually absorb the water. On the other hand, when you put the sponge in the water, it soaked the water up. That’s like us if we are attentive and aware of the things around us. When we look at, listen to, and pay attention to the important people and things in our lives, we are able to learn and soak up the right information. When your parents or other authorities are speaking to you, show attentiveness by stopping what you are doing, looking at them, and listening to what they are saying.