Responsibility of Children

It was the morning of the Grade 7 sibu trip. Members of 7MSy were assembled in front of the sports hall ready to board the bus to Sibu, Malaysia. The whole class was ready to board, expect one unfortunate student. She had forgotten to bring her passport. This meant a mad dash with her Mentor Teacher, Mr Spreckley, to retrieve it. She probably felt embarrassed for keeping the whole class waiting.

Students forgot things all the time, so how do you encourage them to remember? Some people believe that responsibility starts at home and believe it or not, getting kids to clean their rooms can contribute in developing the right type of skills for later grown up life. As much as it might make a child groan. making up your bed and putting things in order actually teaches kids to be responsible for their own things.

When Kids are shown how to keep things that they value safe or to mend and repair their things that are in poor condition, it teaches them the abstract concept of responsibility into something that is meaningful to them. According to Georgina Knight-Hassell, mother of student,”Encouraging your child to clean their rooms even if it is just as simple as making your own bed, picking up their dirty laundry and keeping their desk tidy provides an intrinsic value too. There’s a sense of satisfaction in having a tidy room which they have control over”.

Indeed, there is pleasure in taking care of personal things, especially of things that were given and that is valued. It is also reciprocal in that it also shows the giver that the valued item is much appreciated.

Setting a good example for your kids is essential has children these days are more sensitive to what we do than what we say. Parents, or guardians should have a positive attitude towards the daily task of keeping a house clean as a kid will be more responsive towards such behavior. Children who take in what they call their own such as a phone or a pet are more likely to take more care of it.

Successful people are those who can manage people, money and personal belongings. Teaching kids to take responsibility in tidying up regularly, calmly and perhaps without having to be reminded everyday, definitely contributes to mastering one of these skills. Teach kids how to how be organised today and you may be ensuring career success tomorrow.

Written by Elizabeth