Life Skills: Tips on Teaching Your Kids To Be Responsible
Childhood is the optimal time to start accepting responsibility. With minimal consequences, children have a safety net to fall back on as they tackle tasks to become more responsible. Harnessing this life skill at a young age helps shape us into thriving adults ready for the challenges life throws their way. Keep reading this article for my tips on teaching your kids to be responsible.
Negative Actions Have Consequences
When your child acts out, you need to have appropriate consequences. Sending them into their room or to a naughty spot isn’t always ideal because y’all miss the opportunity to explain why they did wrong.
If your child has a tantrum at the store because you don’t want to buy them a new toy, remain calm and help them regulate their emotions. Once they’ve taken a few deep breaths, explain why their behavior was inappropriate and what would be an appropriate punishment. This teaches your child that bad actions have consequences and helps them understand why those behaviors were wrong.
Start Good Money Management Habits
Knowing how to manage your money is key to adulthood since y’all have to juggle all sorts of expenses. Sometimes, you don’t have the spare cash to splurge on yourself. Giving your child an allowance teaches them about the importance of saving the money they earn. Even young children can do simple household tasks, such as putting toys away or straightening up their rooms, regularly to earn their allowance.
As we expand on these tips on teaching your kids to be responsible, let’s go back to that example from above. If your child has a tantrum because you won’t buy them a new toy, remind them they can save money to purchase it. This gives them a tangible goal, teaches them responsible spending habits, and creates a sense of pride.
Give Them Chores
As we grow older, our to-do list gets longer, and there’s less free time. Teaching your child when they’re still young helps them learn how to budget their time so they can take care of responsibilities while also doing things that make them happy. Give your child several sets of chores, so they have something to do daily, like making their bed, as well as weekly and monthly chores. This also helps them establish a routine.
Pro tip: One great chore to have your child do at least once a month is decluttering their room. Encourage them to sort through old clothing, books, and toys they no longer use. These are all great items to donate to charity. Helping the community teaches your child a different type of responsibility—it encourages civic duty.
Give Them Independence
It can be hard to let your child spread their wings and fly, but without independence, it’s harder for them to see what they’re capable of on their own. You’ll always be there to support them, and they’ll know you’re their loudest cheerleader. But kids need to try things on their own. We’ve all failed and picked ourselves up to try again until we succeed. Nothing teaches responsibility quite like those first-hand experiences.
