As a parent, you strive to teach your child life lessons and values that will help them become the best person they can be. While helping them recognize the importance of rules and teaching them how to behave at their private school in Orlando is certainly important, teaching them responsibility is just as vital. Teaching children responsibility can be a challenge, but with the right tools and strategies in place, it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few ways to help your child learn and understand why responsible behaviors and actions matter.

The Difference Between Obedience and Responsibility

Before you can start explaining to your child the nuances of responsibility, make sure you understand the difference between obedience and responsibility yourself. Children are keen to follow and obey rules, despite occasionally challenging them. However, following set rules is not in and of itself exhibiting responsibility — it’s only a portion of it. Obedience is about following the rules, doing as you’re told, and adhering to expected behaviors. Responsibility is taking ownership of your actions and being willing to perform a task because it’s the right thing to do, rather than because you were specifically told to do so.

Don’t Be Afraid to Reward Responsibility

When kids are first learning, they need frequent encouragement. To encourage responsible behavior, as well as obedience to rules, don’t be afraid to reward them. If they admit a mistake was their fault, talk to them about how they could do better in the future, but then offer praise to let them know that they did the right thing. If they complete their chores or finish their homework early, offer a fun activity as a reward. You don’t have to do this every time, but making your child feel that their efforts are appreciated can go a long way towards fostering responsibility for years to come.

Give Them a Chance

It’s not uncommon for parents to feel that it’s easier to help their child with certain tasks. After all, chores can take a while, and long hours of homework can drag on. Instead of giving into impatience or frustration, give children a chance to work things out on their own. As soon as they realize that they have the power to solve problems on their own — rather than relying solely on you to fix everything — the sooner they’ll be prepared to accept responsibility for their actions.

At Lake Forrest Prep, we believe that responsibility can help your child achieve great things both academically and socially at their private school in Orlando. For more information on our social events and activities, contact us to schedule a school tour.