How to Raise Responsible Kids: Tips and Suggestions
By Andrew Loh
Many times, parents wonder and worry how they can make their kids
get along with simple and basic duties, like brushing their teeth on
their own; picking up toys; clean up the mess they create on their
own and get ready to go to school on time. Teaching your kids to be
responsible means that you are training them to be in their own
control and making their own decisions. Being responsible also means
that your children will need to be accountable and responsible for
their actions and results, and face the emerging consequences for
the resulting actions.
Under usual circumstances, it is the parent who commits the mistake
of listening too much to their kids' untenable demands and needs.
Some other time, parents may even avoid controlling their children
to prevent fears of hurting their kids. Many parents believe that
childhood is a not a time for self-motivated work, rather it is a
time for unbridled play and enjoyment.
Training your kids to be self reliant and responsible can be a great
way to make them succeed in their life. When you work harder to make
your child responsible and self-initiated individual, you will also
have the ultimate satisfaction of achieving something that is
actually very tedious and difficult.
Here are some simple and basic guidelines and ideas that will help
your kid learn the importance of being responsible:
Tip: Most common house chores and work could be a great
way to teach your child how to be responsible. Chores and sundry
house work will also act as a great fun time for every family member
to unite together to develop a deep family bondage.
It is also very important to realize that learning new skills and
responsibilities could take a long time, if not years or months. As
a parent, you may wish to allow your kid to learn a new task on own
and with his or her own initiatives.
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Prepare a list of light and non-complicated duties and house chores.
You can even involve your child, while you are preparing the list.
You will need to be very lucid, specific and clear, while preparing
this list.
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Next, write down step-by-step instructions on a sheet of paper.
Initially, you can create a list of instructions for just one chore.
Never assign two or three house chores at a single time,
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Even, if you prepare a list of two or three duties, provide choices
in assigning chores to your kids. If you have more than one child,
you can rotate the duty alternatively between them.
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Do not be too pushy, while getting the job done by your kids. Never
be too nagging while you are at work. Children may not like too much
pushing and it may result in them showing disinterest in finishing
the assigned job.
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Fix periodic brain-storming sessions to assist your kids remember
their duties.
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Let the assigned jobs be a fun to carry out and complete. Remember
that you are also trying to bring the whole family together.
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If there is any job that is dirty and unwanted, you can assign that
particular job alternatively on rotation, so that everyone gets to
taste that dirty job!
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The overall objective of this exercise is to teach your kids how to
carry out a task on their own. As far as possible, avoid repeating
the same job again and again.
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Appreciate the efforts put by your kids and reward them if you wish.
Praising and showing appreciation work like an effective antidote.
It will also motivate them to carry out difficult tasks and solve
complex problems with ease.
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Check out that you are providing enough safety and security, while
your kids are performing their jobs. Never allow your kids to work
near potentially dangerous areas like hot gas stoves, on the high
staircases, near the open window openings, inside the cars and
working with hazardous and dangerous chemicals and poisons.
Another important thing to remember here is the parent's helping
hand in providing help and assistance to the kids. Try to offer
love, encouragement, and support and quality time, while you are
making your kids work on house chores. Being completely responsible
and independent could be a lifelong process. Your duty as the loving
parent is to provide your kids a solid plan of action and a pathway
to reach that cherished destination. Responsible kids could be your
important assets and you will cherish them as long as you breathe
and live!
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