Teaching Your Child Responsibility

A person should learn responsibility from a young age if they want to grow up to be useful members of society as adults. When a child thinks of his parents, he thinks of responsible adults. He looks at you as a role model — someone dependable and is accountable for one’s behavior. Here’s how to teach your child responsibility.

Understanding Responsibility
Don’t confuse responsibility with obedience. As a parent, you probably prefer when your child does what you say and follows directions without question. Understand, though, that this is not what responsibility is; this is obedience. Accepting ownership for a chore or task and knowing that it needs to be done is what’s considered responsibility. They do it because it needs to be done, not because they were instructed to.

Be Involved, But Not Too Much
You’ll need to find a balance between overmanaging and underparenting. You’ll need to decide when it’s time to step in for your child versus giving your child the opportunity to handle it himself. This will depend on his maturity level and can be determined by his past behaviors.

Self-Esteem
If your child has high self-esteem, he is likely to be more responsible. He is better at waiting for what he wants, knows how to acknowledge his mistakes, committing to tasks, taking risks, solving problems, and being willing to ask for help. Instilling these sorts of behaviors will contribute to his development into an adult. To do so, you must give him the support that will build up his self-esteem and make him feel more capable.

Don’t Overindulge
Boosting your child’s self-esteem doesn’t mean making him feel entitled. Over-indulged children frequently expect things to be done for them, do not show gratitude, and do not tolerate frustration. These traits are the opposite of what it takes to be a responsible person.  Avoid overindulging by not providing too many material things and doing too much for your child. Set limits, say no, set expectations, and encourage your child to do give back.

At Lakeland Catholic schools, we foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact the Office of Catholic Schools at the Diocese of Orlando by dialing 407-246-4800.