Teaching Kids About Responsibility

Learning about responsibilities is an important part of growing up. Although some children may be too young to get a job, responsibilities aren't always about getting paid.

A good way to start giving kids responsibilities is by asking them to do little, but important tasks. While responsibility can be shown in many ways, like doing one’s homework or household chores before being asked, you can also encourage children to do more. For example, ask an older child to watch his or her younger sibling if their caregiver has to take a phone call or use the restroom. For children who want more responsibilities, summer is a great time to volunteer for a dog-walking or babysitting job. 

Ask the young people in your life if they have responsibilities. If they aren’t sure, share with them what a responsible task might be. For more information, check out this list of 12 responsibilities that will help kids feel special.