Once upon a time in a land of make-believe
There was a little child who wouldn't achieve
The final task of cleaning up their room
And it brought their parents much gloom and doom

They scolded and shamed and threatened punishment
But the child just slumped and remained adamant
"I don't accept the blame," they said with a pout
"I don't fess up, and that's what it's all about"

The parents sighed and took a deep breath
Then gently asked the child to explain their unrest
"Why won't you clean up and put things away?
Is there something we can do to help you today?"

The child looked up with tears in their eyes
And said, "I don't know where to begin, it's a surprise
I feel overwhelmed and don't know what to do
But I'm sorry for causing trouble for you."

The parents smiled and gave the child a hug
And said, "We understand, it can be tough
Let's work together and get this done
And then we'll have some fun in the sun."

So they cleaned up the room, together they worked
And the child realized that asking for help wasn't a quirk
It's okay to explain and accept the blame
And sometimes, punishment can be a game

They learned a valuable lesson that day
And their relationship grew stronger in every way
So if you ever feel overwhelmed or ashamed
Remember, it's okay to ask for help and take the blame.

Reflections

Here are some questions to ask kids to think about the story "Learning to Ask for Help":

1. What did the child in the story struggle with and why was it difficult for them to clean up their room?
2. How did the parents initially respond to the child's behavior, and how did their approach change over time?
3. What did the child learn about asking for help, and how did that help them overcome their difficulties?
4. Why is it important to take responsibility for our actions, and what can we gain from doing so?
5. What can we do when we feel overwhelmed or unsure about a task we need to complete?