8 Practical Tips on How to Teach Children Responsibility

Responsibility helps children learn to become adults, manage their tasks effectively, and resolve issues independently. The article will provide practical tips on how to teach children responsibility and empower them for future academic and career demands.

Table Of Contents

1. Give More Responsibilities for Children
2. Provide Responsible Decision-Making Examples
3. Teach Children to Be Responsible for Their Goals
4. Teach Children to Be Responsible for Their Time
5. Set Clear Expectations for Your Children
6. Use The Language of Responsibility
7. Teach Children Responsibility to Other Children
8. Teach Children Responsibility for Their Choices
Demystify How to Teach Children Responsibility with UNIS Hanoi

1. Give More Responsibilities for Children

Understanding how to teach a child responsibility allows parents to lay a strong foundation for their children’s success. As children grow up, giving them more responsibilities helps cultivate their sense of accountability. Parents can gradually introduce household tasks to instil discipline and a strong work ethic. Here are some duties your child can start doing now:

Taking care of pets
Keeping their bedrooms tidy
Picking up toys
Doing laundry tasks
Cooking their own meals
Helping parents with household chores

The age-appropriate tasks above allow children to understand the consequences of their actions. This gradual increase in responsibility teaches them life skills and develops a strong foundation for becoming responsible members of the community.

2. Provide Responsible Decision-Making Examples

One of the most effective methods for teaching methods for clarifying the question of “What is responsibility for children?” is giving them examples. Parents can demonstrate responsibility by keeping promises to their children. If circumstances prevent you from fulfilling a commitment, explain the reason to your child.

As you act as a model, involve your child in your decision-making process. For example, if you find a purse on the ground, you may say, “Let’s see if we can find the owner or turn it to the police officer.” Giving them examples of responsibility increases the likelihood that your children develop into socially responsible people.

3. Teach Children to Be Responsible for Their Goals

Goals give children a sense of direction and help them prioritise their actions. Children are more likely to resist distraction when they engage in activities aligned with their desires.

Parents should guide children in achieving a specific goal, such as finishing homework on time or achieving a high test result. Children should write down their goals and break them down into manageable steps. As they progress, parents can help by discussing challenges and offering solutions. In the end, children should evaluate the outcome together to reinforce the importance of responsibility in achieving their goals.

3. Teach Children to Be Responsible for Their Goals — Teach Them How To Set Goals

4. Teach Children to Be Responsible for Their Time

Regarding how to explain responsibility to a child, parents can demonstrate the significance of effective time management. Parents can employ a time log where children can track their activities every 15 minutes a week and visualize how they spend their time.

Another approach to try is to create a daily or weekly schedule. Children can organize their tasks into manageable segments. Once they succeed in following a 21-day schedule, they can develop this practice into a lasting habit, which fosters a sense of responsibility.

5. Set Clear Expectations for Your Children

Children might encounter issues understanding and evaluating their parents’ expectations. Therefore, parents should notice their actions, speeches, and reactions to help children adapt to the desired expectations.

Parents can formalise their expectations in family rules. Before that, discuss with children so they feel acknowledged and respected. Involving children in creating these rules can increase their commitment to following them.

5. Set Clear Expectations for Your Children — Give Children Clear Expectations

6. Use The Language of Responsibility

Praise and encouragement are potent languages of responsibility. You can cement a positive relationship with their children by telling them you believe in their ability to accomplish tasks. When children see that parents notice and value their responsible actions, they are more likely to continue practising these behaviours.

Besides, there are some common phrases people use to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. It is important to keep your children from relying on those trip words. For example, they may say, “I forgot to do homework”, as an excuse. Instead of accepting this, guide them towards responsibility by asking them to call their classmate and find out what the assignment was.

7. Teach Children Responsibility to Other Children

Teaching children responsibility towards other children helps them build social bonds as they learn their actions can impact those around them. You can try the following methods:

Engage them to help younger siblings with clothing changes: This fun activity can motivate the older child to develop a sense of responsibility and teamwork.
Emphasise the older child’s role: Pairing the older child with a younger sibling highlights their role. You should also reinforce their sense of duty through praise.
Organise the “Simon Says” game: This game helps older children realize how their actions influence younger siblings.
Adjust the way to talk to children: Speaking to older children more maturely signals your recognition of their maturity and encourages them to live up to their responsibilities.

8. Teach Children Responsibility for Their Choices

Incorporating decision-making opportunities into daily life is a practical approach on how to teach children responsibility. Practical methods include:

Help children become familiar with the terms “decision” and “choice”: This will help them understand their importance and learn that some decisions require careful consideration.
Reinforce good decisions: Parents can reinforce good decisions by sharing stories about courage and praising children’s good choices.
Allow natural consequences: Children should experience the natural consequences of their poor choices to understand the cause-and-effect relationship.

8. Teach Children Responsibility for Their Choices — Decision-making Lessons

Demystify How to Teach Children Responsibility with UNIS Hanoi

UNIS Hanoi understands how to teach children responsibility with the Service Learning Programme. As an IB World School, all our students have opportunities to connect to service projects. By participating in diverse activities, students learn to develop essential skills, which are important to foster a deep sense of responsibility.

Ready to empower your child with a transformative educational experience? Apply to UNIS Hanoi now!