Teaching Kids Responsibility
Responsibility means many things, including taking care of others and being dependable. It means keeping your word and contributing to your surroundings.
Every parent wants to teach their child all the best traits. They want them to grow and become model adults. The only problem is, when it comes to children, most things are easier said than done. Teaching them takes time, commitment, and the right methods. We wanted to provide some ideas and tips on how to teach kids responsibility.
Start Early
Learning responsibility is not an automatic process for children. It is something they must grow into and see as a way of life. If you want your kids to be responsible, you must start early. A 3-year-old can learn effectively and pick up things you teach them.
Be the Example
Children learn first from their parents’ actions before anything else. For your child to practice everything you teach them, they must see that you are doing it too. Don’t tell your kids off for leaving their clothes lying around everywhere, only to do the same in your room. Be the role model they can look up to.
Give Tasks
Talking alone won’t do much. You must employ actions. Give your kids age-appropriate tasks to keep them engaged and responsible. These could include cleaning their rooms, pitching in with the dishes, babysitting younger siblings and much more. As they get older, you should alter the chores to suit their age. Make sure you set up rules and consequences for failing to complete tasks or a reward system for doing it right. This way, the kids take it seriously and are motivated to learn.
Don’t Run to the Rescue
As parents, it is natural to run to your child’s rescue when they are in trouble. For most parents, this includes when a child forgets his homework, goes late to school or experiences any other difficulty. There are times when you must stop and remember that this small crisis is the best time to teach kids responsibility. You can assist slightly with the problem-solving but allow kids to work through a difficult situation themselves.
Positive Reinforcement
This little trick works on adults too. Always recognise your child’s efforts towards responsibility and praise them for it. Tell your child immediately what they did right and why you liked it. Encourage kids to do better and watch their progress.