Children do not magically turn into responsible adults. The process of becoming a dependable adult begins at a young age when you help your child learn the value of roles and responsibilities.
Responsibility: what is it?
Responsibility is defined as “the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.”
In real life, responsibility is something that is expected of someone, but it can also be a personal choice to take responsibility when others think it is not important. Responsibility makes you accountable. For example, teachers expect students to bring in their homework folders. Bringing homework folders is “a responsibility” and it is the students’ responsibility to bring their homework folders to school.
Why is it important to teach responsibility to children at a young age?
Cultivating responsibility at a young age is crucial. It is vital because it gives children a sense of purpose, helps them gain independence, and builds resilience on an individual and societal level.
How can you demonstrate responsibility and why is it beneficial?
Here are some simple ways to teach responsibility to children through daily practice within the classroom and/or at home:
1. Create a duty roster with roles
Allocate jobs or duties to children. You can offer incentives for each role if done diligently and responsibly at the end of the week. Maybe a movie or popcorn night should do the trick! This would also help children understand that actions have consequences.
2. Praise them for taking responsibility
Whenever you a child does something responsible, praise them and show them your appreciation by saying something like, “Thank you for picking the book up and putting it in the right spot Bryan. You are such a responsible boy.” By saying this, the child knows why they were praised and they will be able to have a better understanding of responsibility.
3. Help them take charge and make informed decisions
Giving roles and responsibilities to a child helps them learn about leadership, guidance, and safety. For example, if a child has the role of a line leader, they would have to make sure that the path or route is safe so that everyone can get from one point to the other without any incident.
Ultimately, responsibility cultivates accountability which is an important life lesson that teaches children not to make excuses or place blame on others.
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