Teaching Your Child Responsibilities
Children at a small age should start understanding the word “responsibilities”. You can teach them just by telling them to clean up after eating or if you choose to buy a pet that would be great. Some parents love pets or want them for their child. I personally bought a small dog for my daughter so she could can a friend. She loves the dog and he is a year old now. I tell her he needs to eat like she does and he needs to bathe like she does. She loves to feed her dog and give it water. She understands that he is a big responsibility. She is only 3 years old.
When the parent accepts the responsibility of caring for their parent in a loving way, the child learns respect, love, and how to handle circumstances. Parents that communicate their expectations and feelings are demonstrating how the child can communicate with others. Acting responsibly sets the example. Modeling is the most effective action we can teach children. Children do what we do, not necessarily what we say. Parents must be aware that their children are watching at all times. Children will often copy parents’ actions.
Children need rules and discipline. They learn by play and from their surroundings. When young children are given clear rules, they can understand them. Show them the family rules by doing them, not just telling them. Young children need much help in understanding what rules and limits are. It might seem like the family rules are always being challenged. Be firm, but be kind with children. Show a child how to care for books by carefully turning the pages. Teach them that when they play with something they should place it back or tell them when they borrow something from some one that they should give it back. Empowerment is the most important key to a strong family. Giving children a sense of responsibility empowers them to create a better world. To children the world is a scary place.
Teaching children responsibilities is a challenge especially for toddlers. Here are some great ways to teach them the right way:
*Set good examples they see what others do. So make sure they understand if they can not do it than others can not. Teach them about what adults can do and why they can not.
*Make time for them to bond, listen, talk, and love. Children want attention and strive for it. Give them at least an hour a day or two. Spend time with them and learn what they are learning,
*Set routines, rules, and guidelines in your home. Children want and need this. It makes the understand what they can do and what the day will be like.
*Let your child help with challenging tasks. Encourage your child to try to perform new tasks and to face new challenges. By doing so, you will certainly boost your child’s sense of competence.
*Encourage your child to make decisions. Begin encouraging decision-making while your child is young. At first, choices should be kept simple, like allowing your child to choose from two outfits which one to wear. As your child ages, encourage him or her to make more complex decisions. Your child will learn to make good choices by being given choices.
Giving your child chores he or she can handle is a good way to build self-confidence and responsibility in your child. Let them set the table, water plants or flowers, bring clothes to the washer, or picking up their toys. They will be stubborn at first but they will help you more and more. As your child matures, consider additional ways your child can contribute to the household. Doing chores is a useful way to learn persistence and to learn that when we live up to our responsibilities we enable others to trust and rely on us.
Teaching your child to accept responsibility for his actions is one of the greatest gifts you can give him. You have just a few years left while he is under your roof.
