Teaching Young Children Responsibility

Girls and Boys Town offers the following tips for teaching children responsibility: (www.parenting.org)

• Be aware – Know whether your child is developmentally ready to do the task.

• Show and tell – Talk to your child, and show him or her how to do what is expected.

• Be consistent but flexible –Remember: it is your child’s job, not yours, even when you help.

• Show encouragement – Praise your child for attempts, improvements and completion of tasks.

• Break tasks into manageable pieces – Separate a large task into smaller parts based on your child’s ability.

• Be patient – You may have to redo parts of the job until your child gets better at it. However, do not let your child see you redo something he/she has already done!

How to Make Your Own Chore Chart:

• Draw a large grid with 8 columns and approximately 10 rows on poster-sized paper or cardboard.

• Use bright colors and designs to make the chart attractive.

• Label the first column ‘chores’, and the remaining columns according to the days of the week.

• In the first column, paste cutout pictures or stickers that represent different chores (i.e. a goldfish for feeding fish or a toothbrush for brushing teeth).

• Together with your child, place a sticker in the appropriate square each time s/he completes a chore.

• Be sure to congratulate your child enthusiastically and celebrate when placing the stickers on the chart.