Teaching responsibility to kids is a parent’s prerogative. Your home can be the best training ground for instilling responsibility. However, to yield maximum results, it is critical for parents to begin this process in the early stages of child development.
Responsibility is a vital character trait; it is the core element of good character. When instilled in children, responsibility can play a pivotal role in your child’s adult years. Research studies clearly indicate that responsible children mature into responsible adults. Instilling a strong sense of responsibility in children, can be one of the finest gifts you can bestow on your child.
Here are some effective strategies parents can use when teaching responsibility to children:
Teaching Responsibility to Kids
4 significant steps.
Teach by example
Teaching responsibility by example can undoubtedly be the best strategy which parents can adopt. Successive studies indicate that parents have the strongest influence on their children, especially in the formative period of their lives. It has been found that children are ever watchful of their parent’s behavior.
If you as a parent want to instill responsibility in your children, you would need to demonstrate to them your personal sense of responsibility in every area of your life – – -in all your interactions within and outside the family, in your work and business ethics and in your behavior and actions.
Communicate positively
Parents, who take time to communicate positively, spare no effort to impress on their children the importance of responsibility in terms of their long-term interest and success. Positive communication enables parents to know their children better. It aids them in harnessing creative ways to communicate with children instead of inflicting blame or accusations on them.
Parents, who consistently communicate in a positive manner, can help children figure out what could have gone wrong. With parental understanding and guidance and by working closely with children, they would be better able to locate specific areas of irresponsible behaviours and arrive at amicable solutions.
Encourage personal responsibility
Children need to have personal responsibility for their behaviour and their belongings. It is important for parents to encourage children time and again to behave responsibly. Let them know that you believe in their strength and abilities; you can do so by entrusting them to be in charge of appropriate tasks and garnering their involvement in helping you formulate a mutually agreeable policy. Examples might include feeding a b pet or collecting the mail form the mat.
Responsibility can be better instilled when children look upon it as a privilege and directives are issued discreetly. Children, as all people like to feel they matter. Hence it would be well worth for parents to let children know that you count on them to help in running the home smoothly. Empowering children in this manner can boost their self-esteem and motivate them to try harder.
Insist on consequences
Set clear rules and expectations. Let children know that privileges like watching a movie can be enjoyed only after they have performed their act of responsibility like keeping the room clean, having done the laundry or mowed the lawn. Failing to follow the rules or demonstrate responsible behaviour, could ensue in them having to bear the consequences.
Whilst this may and does work in practice intrinsic motivation is the key to reinstating responsibility in children. This means behaving responsibly without the lure of getting rewards or out of fear in a bid to avoid punishment. Children, who are forgetful and fail to remember the rules, need gentle reminders interspersed with timely appreciation when the task is well done.
Conclusion on Teaching Responsibility to Kids
When responsibility is taken upon as a way of life and made into an invigorating fun experience by all family members, it results in less stress and better enjoyment for the family as a a whole. Teaching responsibility to kids can be well within the reach of any parent when children are made to understand that hard work and self-discipline are the cornerstones of success. All it takes for parents is a sense of purpose, genuine interest and determination
Further reading
How to help children like themselves more
