How to Teach Kids Personal Responsibility

Have kids help out in the kitchen to develop more responsibility.

Recognizing that your children are no longer little means providing them with the necessary skills to become responsible young adults. Teach children valuable lessons in personal responsibility by encouraging independence and self awareness. You can require them to take on a greater role in the home while managing their own personal affairs as well.

Instructions

1. Explain to your children that personal responsibility means learning not to rely on their parents and other adults to assist with everyday tasks. Provide examples of ways they can begin to take greater personal responsibility. Young children can begin by simply setting their clothes out for school the night before without having to be told. Older children can start saving money to buy things that they want, rather than relying on their parents for money.

2. Assign weekly chores to your children. Have younger children clean their rooms weekly and make their beds every day. Older children can take personal responsibility by doing their own laundry in addition to keeping their rooms clean. You can also have your children take on greater tasks in the home, such as taking out the garbage or washing the family car.

3. Give children an allowance each week and do not deviate from it. Sit down at the beginning of each month determine a budget for the month. Their budget should include lunch money and funds for recreational activities such as going to the movies. If your children will need money for a special project at school or new uniforms, include those items in the budget as well. Tell your children to track their spending daily to ensure they do not go over budget and have enough money to last through the month.

4. Discuss the importance of keeping track of their belongings and other items. Children must learn not to lose things like school supplies or their wallets. Tell your children to always check if they have their keys, phone, or wallet before leaving a location. Reinforce this by asking them if they have all of their necessary items when leaving the house.

5. Talk about avoiding negative influences as a part of taking greater personal responsibility. Kids may be inclined to blame poor decision-making on their friends. However, teach them that they alone are responsible for their own actions. Remind them that any poor decisions they make reflects poorly on them and not their friends.

References

• One Step Ahead: Teaching Kids Responsibility
• Parents: How to Teach Kids to Accept Responsibility for Their Actions