As parents, you probably want to raise your children to be responsible, but you may be unsure just what that looks like or how to do it. First, it helps to know what responsibility really means.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, being responsible means taking a personal interest in and doing something about your own welfare and that of your family and community.<\/p>\n
Being responsible means not waiting for someone else to do something for you that you can do for yourself. When you are responsible, you know when to take the blame for something and admit when you\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n
Responsibility means taking it upon yourself to do something about a problem \u2013 your own, your community\u2019s, your family\u2019s, etc. \u2013 and not waiting for someone else to do it.<\/p>\n
Here are some tips on teaching responsibility to your children. Be sure to modify the following for your kids\u2019 ages and temperaments.<\/p>\n
1. Accept \u201cbad\u201d feelings<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting for parents to think that their primary job is to make sure their kids are happy all the time. But being able to take your kids\u2019 negative feelings is key to teaching them responsibility. Why? Because your kids may be annoyed, upset, angry, or otherwise unhappy about having to take responsibility.<\/p>\n Young children may cry or yell or stomp their feet when you ask them to put away their toys, but if you calmly accept that these feelings are part of it, you will be less likely to scramble to stop the negative feelings and relent on the task.<\/p>\n 2. Follow Through<\/strong><\/p>\n As parents one of the most important things we can do is to do what we say we\u2019re going to do \u2013 in other words follow through. Children will quickly gage when you \u201cmean\u201d it or when you don\u2019t. If you say to your child, \u201cif you don\u2019t stop that I won\u2019t take you to the park today\u201d then you must be prepared to follow through on that statement if your child does not stop.<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s easier to let a few things go here and there but unfortunately that sends a message to your child \u2013 \u201cI can get away with this because my mom or dad won\u2019t really punish me.\u201d It\u2019s really important to follow through each and every time.<\/p>\n 3. Chores<\/strong><\/p>\n Teaching your children to take responsibility for their own chores is an important step toward taking responsibility. If you need help getting started, consider making a chart with privileges on one side and a list of chores on the other. Each chore can be worth a certain amount of \u201cpoints\u201d and each privilege can \u201ccost\u201d a certain number of points. For instance, your lists might look like this:<\/p>\n Chores:<\/p>\n Putting toys away throughout the house: 10 points Privileges:<\/p>\n Half an hour of TV: 10 points This way, kids earn their privileges and can take responsibility and control for what privileges they get to enjoy.<\/p>\n Keeping Your Child Healthy<\/strong><\/p>\n When parents think about their child\u2019s health, it is important that they not only consider the physical wellbeing of the child, but the psychological and social health as well.<\/p>\n This broad field of children\u2019s health includes psychological issues surrounding mood, behavior, learning, and concentration, as well as physical areas such as appetite, bedwetting, fever, sleep, chicken pox, tantrums, weight loss, and more.<\/p>\n It even includes complicated, and increasingly diagnosed behavioral health issues like\u00a0Autism<\/a>, Asperger\u2019s Syndrome, and Attention Deficit Disorder\/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Learn more about natural remedies and your child\u2019s health now!<\/p>\n
\nMaking own bed: 5 points
\nClearing dishes off the table: 5 points
\nHelping prepare dinner: 5 points<\/p>\n
\nPlaying video games for half an hour: 10 points
\nPlaying with toys: 5 points<\/p>\n