Values are of great importance to everyone in society, and it is for this reason that as parents we want our little ones to grow up having them. That is why as parents, we strive for our children to be responsible.
But what does it mean to be responsible? According to the RAE, being responsible means ” paying care and attention to what you do or decide “. However, we know that the meaning of responsibility goes much further . In the case of our children, how can we know that they already are?
Although as fathers and mothers we surely know them well, and the answer to this question can be very intuitive, it is worth reflecting on some issues related to the sense of responsibility in children and adolescents. We bring you seven signs that your child is responsible .
Seven signs that your child is responsible
How do I know if my child is responsible? Although each child is different, the truth is that the value of responsibility is something that can be achieved through actions, behaviors, attitudes… We propose seven signs that show that your child is responsible:
1. Accept the consequences of your actions
One of the main signs that our children are responsible is that they assume the consequences of what they do (they take responsibility for it). That is, when they make a mistake or do something that can be considered “negative” or inappropriate, they do not try to deny it or blame it on others.
Thus, they are children who assume what they have done and who take charge of what is necessary to solve the problem. In a few words: taking responsibility for one’s own actions implies: being aware of them , assuming their consequences, acting when something needs to be changed and identifying when to ask for help, when it is not possible alone.
2. He takes care of his duties and tasks
Another indication of responsibility in children is when they themselves take care of their homework and tasks without us, as parents, having to ask for it from time to time.
They know what to do and do it with a good attitude. Logically, this does not mean that sometimes we have to supervise them in some tasks or offer them support, that they ask us for help or that they also have bad days when they get angry. But in general, responsibility denotes knowing more or less what to do; for example: “knowing that I have to prepare my backpack for tomorrow, knowing that on Tuesdays I have to set the table, or that I have to put food for the cat because I am in charge of feeding it”, etc.
3. It is respectful of spaces
Respect for spaces is also a value that indicates responsibility. Thus, we speak of children who take care of the spaces in which they find themselves, do not dirty or damage the things around them and in the event that something like this happens, they assume their responsibility and try to find solutions to what has happened.
But respect (and consequent care) towards the environment, towards spaces, shops, places, school, and even material, etc., is also indicative of responsibility, since responsibility is not only given to people, but also towards places, things, etc.
4. Respect others and respect yourself
Responsible children are capable of respecting others, things and places, but in addition to that they are capable of being respectful of themselves , avoiding places or people who do things that do not correspond to their well-being, harm them or cause them discomfort.
In addition, self-care, knowing how to set limits on others and self-protection are not only signs of responsibility, but also of having good self-esteem. We talk, for example, of: saying “no” when we want to say no, going to birthday parties that I really want to go to, staying home if I don’t feel 100%, etc.
5. Take care of others
Responsible children are characterized not only by taking care of themselves and their belongings, but also by being able to take charge and care for others. This involves your family and your friends.
But we are not talking, at all, of delegating to children the task of caring for their siblings, for example (since that is the responsibility of the parents). We speak rather of that tendency to care for the other , because it comes from oneself (not as an obligation or duty, but as something that arises naturally).
On the other hand, this responsibility that translates into care can even cause children to get involved in situations in which they protect third parties , outside their close circle, when they know that something is wrong.
6. He is polite in his dealings
Responsibility also has a lot to do with education ; and it is that being responsible indicates that we are capable of taking charge of our actions and, in this sense, the way of treating and interrelating with others is also included.
Thus, responsible children and adolescents are usually quite cordial and kind, and are willing to help and accompany others.
7. Respect the rules
Both at school and at home and everywhere we go, there are certain rules and limits that we must abide by. Responsible children are able to follow these guidelines or rules even if sometimes they do not fit or they do not like them. But they are able to understand and follow them, adapting to the context in which they are.
Promoting responsibility at home
Having a responsible child depends largely on what we teach him at home, although there are also other variables involved in this learning, such as: learning at school, socialization, implicit and practical learning of everyday things, the overall experience, etc.
But if you want to work from home responsibility, there is no better way to teach than through example . That is why it is important that we are also responsible parents, although that does not mean that we can “fail” from time to time, since we are all human, and responsibility is not at odds with flexibility.
So, if you want to work on all this at home, don’t miss our article on guidelines and habits for working on responsibility in children, where we discuss these and other actions to carry out on a day-to-day basis.
And remember…
Although it is very good to work on responsibility in children, we should not pretend that our children are responsible at all times and in any situation. We have to understand that sometimes they may have a bad day, or they will not know how to manage a situation, they may act impulsively, etc., and it is normal.
Let us remember that they are learning and developing their personality, and we must guide them to be good people and responsible for their actions. Therefore, let’s not give them more burden than they can take on (they are children), and let’s learn to positively manage the expectations we place on them.
Photos | Cover (Freepik)