MommyTeaching.com

Accountability - Part II

September 14, 2011

I wear so many hats: wife, mother, daughter to an elderly mom, sister, teacher, friend, co-worker, contributing member of my church, neighbor, counselor to my troubled students,...etc.  I am overwhelmed at times but my children are fine.  Somehow I manage to shelter them from my stress and weariness.  I believe that holding them accountable for their responsibilities makes it possible for me to juggle my various roles.  Here are my top ten tips for making children accountable for themselves.  

1. Help children develop productive habits.  First model correct behavior.  Then teach children to monitor their own actions.  A checklist works for monitoring.  Some examples of productive habits are as follows: cleaning the table after dinner, putting dirty dishes and utensils in the sink and generally picking up after themselves.
2. Instruct children to keep their room picked up.  Allow children to give themselves a star on a chart for each evening that their room remains orderly.
3. Implement weekly chores for your children.  First model how to perform the chores then hold children accountable for making sure their siblings do them.  Create a system of checks and balances to promote teamwork and cooperation.
4. Have children pick out and lay out their clothing for the next day.    
5. Have children pack their backpacks with necessary items for school, play-dates or any other events.
6. Have children keep track of their bathing schedules: every day or every other day.
7. Teach children the days of the week.  Let them know your daily routine for each day.  Help them recall the day and the events that will occur on that particular day.
8. Have children contribute to house rules and give them some power to implement them.
9. Allow children to come up with a way to organize toys and belongings.
10. Encourage children to reward themselves for a job well done.  Teach instrinsic (from self) satisfaction and minimize extrinsic (from others) rewards.