How to Teach Children Responsibility

The goal of teaching responsibility is to teach children to make choices that require thoughtful consideration of a situation. In a country where true heros are difficult to find and examples of irresponsibility saturate society, where we continue to see the results of a mindset where the rights and freedoms of individuals are often protected over the well-being of the community, parents must rise to the calling to teach their children responsibility.

Parents are the first (and most important) teachers children will ever have.

To teach children responsibility parents must:
(1) create an environment where responsibility is the norm,
(2) be responsible role models,
(3) teach responsibility from early on in life,
(4) expect children to act in a responsible manner,
(5) reinforce the responsible behaviors their children demonstrate, and
(6) stop irresponsibility before it becomes habit by using logical consequences.

• Create an Environment Where Responsibility Is The Norm

Raising responsible adults isn't something that happens by accident. Teaching a child to be responsible starts when he is brought home from the hospital and continues throughout his life. Parents must create an environment where responsibility is the norm. Humans are social creatures by nature and learn by example. From the day Junior is brought home from the hospital parents should strive for responsibility and accountability in their home. The environment in which a child is brought up shows him how conflict is handled. Discussing disagreements and strong feelings in your home demonstrates to your children responsible ways to handle conflict.

• Modeling Responsibility

Using the "Practice What You Preach" model of teaching is best when working with children. Often parents attempt to hide their faults from their children hoping what goes unsaid will go unnoticed. This is rarely the case. Admitting and correcting mistakes in front of children is one of the most important things parents can do to teach responsibility.

• Teach Responsibility Early