How To Teach Your Children About Responsibility

Everyone wants children who are beautiful, soft in nature, charming, well-mannered, achievers, active and intelligent. All these attributes are wonderful and leads to a well-rounded personality. Children with these aspects to their nature and personality are sure to succeed in life. But all of these beautiful attributes are of no potential, if a person is not responsible. Responsibility is a sense of duty in a person, an attitude of being accountable for his/her own acts. A person with no sense of responsibility for people and surroundings is generally other people’s responsibility. To have a fulfilling life, it is thoroughly important to have a characteristic of responsibility in one’s personality. People who are responsible make great partners, parents and citizens. They are an asset for everyone around them. Other people can count on them and trust them easily. It uncomplicates the life by keeping everything simple and straight-forward; whereas, in an irresponsible person’s life, everything gets complicated, whether it is their personal life or professional. You certainly do not imagine a life full of difficulties and complexities for your children. Instilling responsibility in your children becomes the most important aspect of parenting. You care for your children and want for them to have an independent and satisfying life, so that when you are not there in their life, they can have a functional life. You should try to instill responsibility in your children from the very beginning. It is not something that they will learn on their own. An individual is never too young to learn responsibility, so teach them how to be responsible since the time they start to understand things around them. Let us take you through some guidelines that might be effective in teaching your children responsibility:

 

 

Like we mentioned above, it is never too early to teach your children responsibility. As soon as a child starts to respond to the environment around, it means that he/she has started to absorb and adapt to it. It is said that a human being learns the most and fastest up till the age of six. When your child starts to exhibit an understanding of things around him, you should start to teach him responsibility. It would otherwise bet difficult for you to ignore the importance of responsibility in the beginning and then try to force it on children later, when they probably are accustomed to leading a life without any responsibilities.

Children imitate their parents. Parents are their role models and source of inspiration. If they observe their parents doing something or acting or reacting in a certain manner, then that sends across a message that it is an acceptable behavior and it is valid to behave, feel or exhibit, like this. Parents should be very careful around children and practice what they preach. If you want your children to be responsible then you should project the same responsibility. In every little act of yours, they should be able to see your sense of responsibility.

Teach your children how to be responsible by starting with little things. You can ask them clear their own room, make their bed, put their things in order ask them to keep an eye on the pet, etc. These little things will build to make their character. They will understand the meaning of responsibility from a very young age, with the help of constructive things. It will soon become a part of their routine and nature.  You can, also, give them little projects to help them feel more responsible, like, ask them to take care of a house plant by watering it everyday and saving it from any bad effects. This will make them mature and accountable.

Let your children be the decision makers, in their own realm. Do not consider them as dependent creatures; treat them as individuals with opinions and minds of their own. Let them feel that their perspective matters and holds an effect to it. This realization, of the effect that their thoughts and action holds, will create a feeling of responsibility in them, a sense of answerability.

Appreciate them every time they do an act of responsibility. Let them know that they are being observed and admired for their responsible behavior. This will make them feel that their efforts are not going in vain. It will get established stronger and stronger in their minds that to be responsible is appreciated, which means that it is expected from them. Once they will associate responsibility with rewards then when they grow up, they will understand the benefits of being responsible.

Children are inherently innocent by nature. There will be times when they will make mistakes or not understand the concept of responsibility at all. You need to be patient. You need to set reasonable and achievable goals. Do not put too many responsibilities on them. Do not be pressurizing or annoyed when they fail to keep up with their tasks. Understand their problems and short-comings, and deal with them accordingly.

Be encouraging to your children. Be there for them, to make them feel secure. Every time they fail to be responsible, mention it carefully and gently. Do not hurt their individuality and try and mould them into something they are not.