One of the traits that most parents want to instill in their children is responsibility. Responsibility isn’t inborn; parents need to coach and train their children. Parents want their kids to be people that are reliable in society and be accountable for their behavior. Ingraining responsibility in your kids means seeing it as a simple and fun way to teach life skills. When your kids have responsibilities, they can act on their own and make informed decisions. But what can you do to develop responsibility in your kids?
Enforce accountability
Enforcing accountability requires you to start early. When your children are toddlers, let them learn that they are accountable for their actions. As a parent, always react when your children fail to do something. For instance, don’t pick the toys for them; instead, tell them to place them back in the rightful place. Avoid promoting your kids’ justifications, lies, and excuses whenever they are in the wrong; instead, create consequences such as grounding them and assigning extra chores.
Assign chores
Children without responsibilities grow up feeling entitled. Assigning chores will not only teach them how to be responsible but also take some of the load off your back. Have your kids take out the trash in good time, clean the dishes, help with the cooking, and clean the house. Set an example for them and teach them how to carry out these chores. When they are younger, allow them to “help” you even when it seems like more work. This way, they grow up willing to take on chores.
Teach them respectful language
Many things and people around the neighborhood, at home, and on the internet will influence your kids in school. During their interactions, they may pick up disrespectful terms. Teach them how to address people with respect and to refrain from abusive language.
Train your kids to be courteous by apologizing when they wrong someone, saying thank you, please, and asking to be excused. You have to be careful with what they watch or listen to, who they interact with, and avoid cursing around them.
Gift them with a pet
A pet is an ideal way to teach your kids responsibility. They are responsible for bathing, feeding, walking, and cleaning after the pet. However, ensure that they prove their readiness to take on that responsibility. A puppy trained right is equally capable of instilling responsibility in your kids; they take on behaviors such as using the bathroom properly and observing a routine with meals. Give them access to training articles and videos to prepare them for the responsibility ahead.
Teach them how to garden
If you have a kitchen garden, teach your kids how to be responsible by giving them a section to plant. Engage them in activities such as watering the plants, clearing weeds, and cleaning gardening tools. When you’re away, you can rest assured that your kids will take care of your garden instead of worrying about hiring a gardener.
Gardening is also a perfect way to get your kids away from electronic devices and teach them skills that will come in handy in the future. Alternatively, you can bring in-house plants or flowers and teach them the basics of taking care of them.
Use rewards and consequences
For every action, your kids need to know that there is either a consequence or reward. Sit down with your kids and make a list of rules that they need to observe and name the consequences for failure to follow them. When your children do a good job, applaud them and sometimes reward them as a motivation to keep up the good work. This way, they learn that good behavior receives praise or a reward, while bad behavior results in punishment.
Teach them about finances and budgeting
Having the money conversation with your kids when they are of age is vital in ensuring they become responsible. It starts with being responsible with the allowance you give them, which translates to their finances when they start earning a living. When your kids are young, create budgets for shopping with them and ensure you stick to it.
Teach them the importance of saving, investing, and the ways to do so. Your kids learn to be responsible with finances when they can manage their allowance for a specified period.
Sign your kids up for volunteer
Volunteering is an ideal way for your children to become more responsible and give back to society. It is also an opportunity for them to interact with others and learn from them. Your kids carrying out simple activities such as clearing litter at the beach and serving food at a shelter for the homeless will teach them how to work with a team. Your kids also learn that they have a responsibility to other people, society, and the environment.
Create a daily routine and structure with your kids
A structure and routine for your kids to follow daily is beneficial to instilling responsibility. Lack of one makes it challenging for your kids to know when to do what. Sit down with your children and create a schedule that they will follow daily. Create time for chores, entertainment, schoolwork, family, and be sure to specify bedtime and when to wake up. A schedule enables your kids to be better time managers and develop successful habits through repetitive household routines.
Teach them independence
At some point in life, your kids will have to be independent. Before they leave your care, prepare them for the real world by training them to be independent. Let them learn how to fend for their allowance by getting a part-time job, basic home maintenance skills, and doing their shopping.
Part of ingraining responsibility by teaching them independence is advising your kids, letting them think for themselves, and make decisions by themselves. This way, your children can stand up for themselves and be firm in the decisions they make.
Modeling responsibility in your kids is vital in molding their behavior. Instead of feeling entitled, your kids learn how to be helpful, accountable, and courteous. Sit with your children and discuss changes in their routine to incorporate chores. Ensure there are rules, consequences, and rewards. Train your kids how to care for the environment through volunteering, taking care of a pet, gardening, and teach them to be independent before they go out into the outside world.
