“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
Recently I was asked by some moms about how they could make their children become more responsible, more respectful, and more dependable.
When my sons were young, I remember that I was always in search of some single earthshaking, monumental solution that would ‘fix’ my kids. Like they promise on those crazy wrinkle cream commercials… just one application and everything would be perfect.
Skin care doesn’t work like that. One application is never enough. It’s the daily things you do that make a difference.
The same is true for your kids.
It’s the little things you do every day that instill character, develop responsibility, thoughtfulness, and dependability.
Today, I want to share with you 3 SUPER SIMPLE and SURPRISING, COMMON-SENSE WAYS TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN RESPONSIBILITY and RESPECT. And they WORK!
1. Take your cart back inside the grocery store or place it in the caddy
It’s not convenient, but it’s the responsible and respectful thing to do. When they get old enough to understand, explain why it’s important. If you’re not sure… it’s because those carts make it hard for other people to park, they can scratch other cars, the grocery cart caddy is there for a reason… we need to show our children how to use it.
2. Put things back where you got them (whether you’re at a clothing store, a grocery store, a friend’s house, or at home)
When you’re in a grocery store and your child or you have grabbed something that you decided not to buy, take it back to where you got it.
When you’re at a friend’s house or at home, and you got something out, put it back where you got it from.
WHY is it such a big deal?
Because if we don’t put it back, someone else will have to. If we put the box of cookies down in the produce section, someone else is going to have to put it back and we aren’t being responsible for our own actions.
If our kids are at a friend’s house and they take out some toys to play with, they need to put them back where they got them. Why? Because if they don’t, someone else will have to and they aren’t being responsible for their own actions.
Seems so simple, but it is a powerful lessons for our little ones to learn. And we have to be the ones that not only expect them to do it, but model it before them.
3. Give them age-appropriate chores
I don’t know why I always felt bad when I made my children do their chores, but chores for the kiddos are an important part of them feeling part… and an important part of them developing character traits like responsibility, dependability, and respect.
They need to know that doing chores is what everyone does to pitch in and help the family.
They need to know that if they don’t do their chores, that someone else will end up having to do them.
And if they are okay with someone else doing what they are responsible for, they are well on their way to developing an entitlement mentality.
Let’s teach our kids to be responsible for the things they are responsible for.
As you train our children in the way they should go, try implementing these 3 super simple tips to help develop character in your kids. They really work!
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR KIDS THAT HELP INSTILL CHARACTER?
WHICH ONE OF THE THREE TIPS IN TODAY’S POST WILL BE SOMETHING YOU START IMPLEMENTING IN YOUR HOME?
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