It is not an easy task and it is achieved over time with a lot of dedication from both parents and teachers. It must be taken into account that the responsibilities that are given to them depend on their age, and that it is necessary to have a lot of patience in order to educate children who are responsible. Responsibility goes hand in hand with other values such as commitment, trust and security.
So today I invite you to review some tips that can be of great help to promote this value in our children.
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Let's start by assigning them small tasks: You can assign easy and simple tasks that are adapted to their age and are not dangerous with frequent supervision. For example, for my 6 year old, I assign him to pick up and tidy toys, pick up his clothes after washing, make his bed, pick up the table, get dressed, among others. For children older than 6, for example, you can assign them to do the dishes, clean the yard, keep the room tidy, and do simple shopping. And for the more adolescent children, you can assign more complex tasks such as cleaning the bathrooms, washing the car, cooking simple meals, shopping.
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That they see it as fun: perhaps when we tell them the tasks they must perform, they see it as an imposition and as something boring, so they prefer not to do it. Here is where we can take advantage and make use of creativity and through games, group activities, songs we can make it easier and more enjoyable for them to participate, this way they will also be more willing to attend to their duties and obligations.
Let's be their biggest example: Children imitate what parents do, that's why we must be very aware of what we do and say. Let's not expect our children to be responsible if we are not. It is important that they see how parents fulfill their obligations and how important it is to fulfill them. We must teach them how to do their homework so that they can do it without fear of making mistakes. Also recognize when we are wrong and accept mistakes.
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Establish the rules to be followed and the limits: This will allow the child to understand that if they do not abide by them they must be responsible for the consequences of not complying with them.
Encourage autonomy: It is related to independence, depending on their age it is convenient to give them more space, so that they feel capable of doing things by themselves, that they should look for the best way to solve their problems, be responsible for their time and the activities they perform. In addition to this, their decision-making capacity is also encouraged; it is not beneficial to be behind them all the time to verify whether they are complying or not.
Acknowledge their responsibility: it is beneficial to recognize what is being done, using positive phrases so that they see that it is not so difficult to fulfill their tasks. However, avoid bribes and promises. Ideally, do not promise rewards if they comply, or threats if they do not, or any remuneration. In such a case, the reward can act as reinforcement after the task is done and without being told beforehand.
As parents we must work with our children so that they are responsible in all senses, at a social level that they are able to be responsible for their behavior with other people and to communicate in the right way, that they are responsible for their actions, decisions, to seek their happiness, to choose the values that will sustain their life, responsible for their tasks, and especially for their self-esteem. They should not forget that the first ones they should be responsible with is themselves.