Giving Kids Responsibilities

Giving Kids Responsibilities

Often times when I speak to other parents about how responsible my kids are I get laughed at. Either that or they make a comment about how strict a parent I must be. Giving kids responsibilities is a MUST, not a yes or no thought. As a parent it is our job to raise our kids to become responsible adults and to prepare them for the real world and life as an adult.

Kids as young as toddlers can be given small jobs to do and can help you around the house, in the garden, at the grocery store etc. Little jobs like setting the table, helping to make the beds, folding laundry, washing plastic dishes….young kids love washing dishes…..they can even help wash the car, dig in the garden and help with grocery shopping.

When you start at a young age and make it fun, encourage, praise and thank them, it quickly becomes normal and a part of life. Kids who are given different responsibilities grow up with a much greater sense of self-worth, self-esteem and are more confident. As long as you don’t expect perfection, and are not a control -freak about how the jobs are done, you kids will be happy to help out. Start out as you intend to continue. As the child grows and becomes more mature their responsibilities grow and expand. All members of the family share in eating and making mess making, therefore all should be responsible for cleaning and other household chores.

Doing everything for your child or not allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them, is NOT being a positive, responsible parent. The kids will more than likely end up with bad attitudes, feelings of entitlement and usually have no respect for their parents or other adults and at times have no respect for them self. When your kids are ready to leave home they should be responsible, capable, confident, young adults, unless they have a development delay or the like. It is my opinion that the parents are to be thanked or to be blamed for just how the kids take control of their lives. They are a product of their environment, mirroring what you they have seen and you have taught them. Parenting is the hardest job in the world, none of us are perfect, but it is our job!!!

The fact that my kids now in their mid- teens, make their beds daily and have done since age 3, clean their rooms and change their sheets weekly, are very capable of grocery shopping and cooking meals, cut the grass, shovel snow, etc. isn’t a laughable matter. It by no means shows that I am a strict parent. It shows that I am doing my job as a responsible parent and role model. I have raised two amazing, loving, compassionate, smart, respectful, responsible, able, young adults. I am doing my job as a parent!