Do you know what the value of responsibility is? Why is it so important to transmit this quality from the time children are young, and how can it be done?
In this article, in addition to talking about what responsibility is, we explain what is the key strategy to promote this value in children, which you can apply as a parent, as a teacher, and also as a therapist. In addition, we propose ideas of tasks that promote responsibility according to the age range of the child.
- We suggest you read: “The 10 best virtues of a person”.
What is the value of responsibility?
Before we talk about how to transmit the value of responsibility to our children, let’s explain exactly what responsibility consists of.
Responsibility is a value and a teaching that we can pass on to our children from the time they can remember. This value implies being aware of the things we do, as well as their consequences, and facing them without avoiding the problems derived from our actions.
Responsibility also alludes to the capacity to take care of certain things, to take care of them and to maintain them, through a series of actions and the taking of different decisions.
On the other hand, responsibility also implies fulfilling a series of day-to-day obligations. Logically, responsibilities (and obligations) vary throughout life, and they are not the same when you are 5, 10, 25, 40, 65…
As responsibilities grow (and demand greater obligations and commitments) as we grow older, it is important to instill the value of responsibility in children from an early age. as we grow up, it is important to instill the value of responsibility in children from an early age, so that they become aware of it, internalize it and put it into practice.It is important to instill the value of responsibility in children from an early age, so that they become aware of it, internalize it and put it into practice.
The value of responsibility: how to transmit this quality?
We have talked about the value of responsibility, but how to transmit this value and this quality? In this article, we will focus on addressing this question in relation to the very young, but also in relation to the not so young (specifically, children and adolescents from 2 to 18 years of age).
Although we will often refer to children, it can also be put into practice for pupils or patients if you are a teacher, therapist, etc.etc.
1. Give your child (or your student…) responsibility.
The key tool to transmit the value of responsibility is to start practicing it with the youngest children. to put it into practice with the youngest children.. So to begin with, we will give certain responsibilities or obligations to our child.
These can start being assumable (easy) to gradually demand a higher level of commitment through them, and can cover different areas and aspects of their lives: hygiene, school, meals, cleaning, home, etc.
Logically, when it comes to giving our child some responsibility and for it to be effective in promoting this value in him/her, we must adapt to his/her age and evolutionary level.
Here are some examples of tasks that involve some responsibility, according to the age range of the child, extracted from the book “Diario de una mamá pediatra” (Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, 2014) and prepared by the pediatrician Amalia Arce (Hospital de Niños de ). These tasks will help to enhance the value of responsibility.
1.1. Between 2 and 3 years of age
Some of the tasks that you can ask your child to do at this age, in order to increase the value of responsibility, are:
- Throwing papers and containers into recycling bins.
- Giving clothespins to hang out clothes
- Picking up toys
- Putting books on the shelves
- Taking the plate to the sink after meals.
1.2. Between 4 and 6 years old
Some of the tasks you can propose to the child in this age range are:
- Tidy up toys and backpack
- Putting the coat back in its place
- Put some of his/her folded clothes in the drawer.
- Putting dirty clothes in the laundry bin for washing
- Tidy up the bathroom after bathing
- Helping to finish making the bed
- Serving yourself some of your breakfast
- Carrying the dish to the sink after eating
- Helping in the kitchen occasionally (e.g. beating eggs)
1.3. Between the ages of 7 and 12
A little older, the tasks that can be required of children, and that increase their value of responsibility, are:
- Taking out the garbage or going to throw away the recycling bags.
- Going shopping for specific things
- Helping to put away the big groceries
- Tidying up the room and making the bed (with help)
- Helping with small repairs (e.g. putting in a light bulb)
- Helping in the kitchen: e.g. grating tomatoes
- Leaving the bathroom clean and tidied up after use
- Helping with general cleaning tasks: e.g. sweeping or dusting.
1.4. Between 13 and 18 years of age
Finally, between the ages of 13 and 18, when they are no longer “children” (and have been for some time now…), some ideas of tasks that we can propose to them and that increase their sense of responsibility, are:
- To fully assume the tasks derived from the meal (i.e., setting and clearing the table, washing the dishes…).
- Taking care of some of the fresh shopping for the week
- Participate in the big shopping
- Participate in house cleaning shifts (e.g. floors, bathrooms…)
- Cooking or preparing some of the daily meal dishes
- Participate in the tasks of help and protection of one of the members of the family who, because of age or illness, needs it.
- Doing repair work (e.g. sewing the hem of pants).
Why is it important to transmit this value?
Education in values is a type of education that teaches children to grow in respect and tolerance, among others.among others. Specifically, it focuses on fostering values and positive qualities for their social, moral and personal development, such as: respect, empathy, tolerance, critical spirit, justice, responsibility, equality….
As we can see, one of these values is the value of responsibility, discussed throughout the article. Focusing on this last value, why is it so important to promote it?
First of all, as we have seen, responsibility is a value that teaches children and adolescents to have obligations and to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions.
It teaches them to take care of something or someone, to value things and to avoid damaging them. All this, in an indirect way, intrinsically teaches other kinds of values, such as: love for diversity, respect, care …..
Moreover, the fact of having responsibilities enhances the maturity, independence and autonomy of the child, who is already able to take responsibility for his things, to take into account the consequences of his actions and to act in a more reflexive way. For these reasons, the value of responsibility is one of the most important to nurture, since it will favor the child’s development in all spheres.