While it definitely isn’t easy, teaching your child about responsibility is a huge parent of being a parent. From chores to good behavior, to money, learning about responsibility is a crucial part of your child’s development. Having a keen knowledge of their responsibilities allows children to understand the consequences of their actions, make good decisions, and gain personal maturity at a gradual pace. If you have a little one eager to learn responsibility, try one of these great teaching tips.
1. Start Slowly
Like any learning experience involving children, starting slowly is a crucial element. Introduce your children to the concept of responsibility as early as possible. Encourage them to pick up and put away their own toys, teach them the importance of keeping things clean, and make sure they understand why it is so important to take care of their things. The earlier you start, the less difficult it will be to immerse your child in the world of responsibility early. Your kids will be more open and understanding of the lessons you are looking to teach if they can already relate to them.
2. Model Responsibility
Children are great at following good examples. Actively show your children what it means to be responsible will do wonders for helping them learn. Don’t be afraid to let them watch you do some of your own chores. As you’re doing your laundry, cleaning off the dinner table, or doing the grocery shopping. Let your little one tag along and explain to them why what you are doing is so important to your life as well as the lives of others.
3. Don’t Make Responsibility and Rewards Synonymous
While there’s definitely nothing wrong with acknowledging your child’s successes or rewarding them for doing well, it may be a little irresponsible to make responsibility and rewards completely synonymous. Start off by teaching them that our responsibilities are things we do because we have to, not because we expect something in return. Once your children are fully aware of these concepts, it may be time to start implementing things like chore-based allowances and responsibility perks.
4. Present Them With Sufficient Opportunities To Be Responsible
Children aren’t known for being the most thorough, precise people, and at times it is easier as a parent to take over the tasks that should be delegated to them on yourself. Cleaning their room, loading the dishes in the dishwasher, even going through their own night time routine are all great starters when it comes to childhood responsibility. While it is definitely okay to help your child if you see them making mistakes, it is also important to give them present them with plenty of opportunities to show you just how responsible they can be.
5. Teach Them About Consequences
It is important for all of us to understand that our actions have consequences and while you shouldn’t overwhelm your child, there’s nothing wrong with teaching them that failing to take care of their responsibilities have consequences. Those consequences can come in the form of minor disciplinary actions or something else of your choosing, but they should always be distinct teaching tools.