Responsibility is linked to students’ academic success
Educators agree that responsible children do better in school. Luckily, parents have endless opportunities to foster responsibility.
To boost your child’s responsibility:
- Enforce a few age-appropriate rules and consequences. State them clearly so your child knows exactly how you expect her to behave—and what will happen if she doesn’t.
- Trust her with meaningful tasks. School-age children are capable of handling responsibilities such as picking up their rooms, taking out the recycling and folding laundry.
- Talk about financial responsibility. Many kids receive an allowance. This provides a great opportunity to teach about budgeting, spending, saving and giving.
- Let your child make decisions, such as which homework assignment to tackle first. Being responsible for making decisions builds students’ confidence.
- Find ways to help others. Discuss what it means to be a responsible member of a community. Talk about different ways your family can contribute, such as by donating gently-used clothing to a charity or volunteering your time for an important cause.
- Adjust rules and responsibilities. As your child matures, her abilities will change. Perhaps she can take on more grown-up chores. Or perhaps she can make new and exciting decisions. Talk about how great it feels to be responsible!
Find more great articles in the February 2022 issue of Parents Make the Difference!® newsletter.
Reprinted with permission from the February 2022 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2022 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.