- Teaching children to be more responsible is important, though not necessarily easy. For example, there’s no guidebook on responsibility that you can refer to – it’s a skill that’s built upon through life experience. However, as a parent, there are plenty of steps you can take to ensure you’re raising dependable and responsible children!
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Here are four ways to teach your children to be more responsible!
1. Put them in charge of their homework.
Homework is not only a tool through which children can advance academically, it also encourages them to be more responsible. This is because they are working outside of class to further their knowledge. As such, if you’re encouraging your child to be more responsible, you need to let them take charge of their homework. Don’t nag them to complete it or lecture them about getting started – instead, encourage them to take initiative. If they then do not complete the homework, they’ll learn the consequences of inaction!
2. Welcome a pet into your home.
Welcoming a pet into your home can also teach your children to be more responsible. However, whether you’re considering adopting German Shepherd Puppies or something a little more low maintenance like a goldfish, it’s important that this is a challenge you are all ready for. For example, if you’re adopting a dog, your child needs to understand the level of care these animals need each day – whether this relates to feeding, grooming or walks.
While you should be prepared to take on the brunt of the work when it comes to pet care, you may want to assign specific tasks to each child. For example, one child could be in charge of feeding them in the morning and another in the evening.
3. Share the housework.
If you’re looking for a constructive way to channel your kid’s after-school energy while also encouraging them to be a little more responsible, encourage them to help around the house. For example, you may want to assign them specific chores each day or week, using pocket money as an incentive. This way, they begin to see the value of being responsible. You can write down their tasks for the week on a whiteboard and hang them on your fridge, encouraging them to tick off each task as they complete them. This can make housework a little more fun for everyone involved as they race to see who can get their chores done first.
4. Reward them when they are responsible.
Sometimes, children may act responsibly without realising they are doing so. For example, if something is broken during play, and they take accountability for it – this is a clear sign that they’re becoming more responsible. These behaviours, while subconscious, should be rewarded as this teaches children the value of being responsible and moving forward.
You should, of course, ensure that you lead by example and act responsibly in your own daily life, too. For example, you can hardly lecture your children about not completing their chores if yours are also left unattended.
