Teaching your children accountability certainly isn’t an easy task for parents, yet it can be extremely beneficial in the long run. Holding kids accountable for their actions not only helps to mould them into responsible and successful young adults, it also encourages them the importance of righting the wrongs of their own accord. Here are a few tips on teaching your children personal accountability from an early age.
Remember, It’s Not About Punishment
Teaching kids personal responsibility is not about punishing or disciplining them. It’s about teaching them to make amends for intentional or unintentional behaviour. That’s why it’s important not to make your child feel as though they need to defend their actions, instead, simply state what happened and offer them a solution to make amends.
Don’t Make Excuses For Your Child
For parents trying to teach their children accountability, it’s crucial for you to let them make their own mistakes. If you try and make excuses for their behaviour all the time, it will show them they don’t need to take responsibility and can behave however they like. Instead, let them know that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay for them to mess up and admit they’ve done something wrong. Encourage your kids to try and think of ways to prevent it from happening again, or how to make amends. This way they’re learning not only how to be accountable but also how to recognise ways not to repeat the same mistake.
Be Consistent
Consistency is key for parents to help their kids develop accountability for their behaviour. This means it’s important for your children to know exactly what’s expected of them and to let them know there are consequences for their actions. If they do misbehave, following through with the repercussions is crucial for teaching them that they do have to take responsibility. If you don’t, you’re taking away their accountability and they won’t learn how their actions and behaviour have consequences.
Model Accountability
Teaching kids about personal accountability is really about letting them know they are responsible for the consequences of their actions. One of the most effective ways to do this is by showing them that you are accountable. When your kids see you apologise, it becomes normal for them to apologise for their own mistakes. When they see you make amends, they learn that it is normal to be accountable for their behaviour. When they see you cleaning up after your messes, they learn to clean up after theirs.
