Every parent wants to raise responsible, self-sufficient kids. After all, that is our most important job. But this job is harder than it looks from the outside, and maybe that’s why things don’t always go according to plan.
But even though parenthood is a crazy and unpredictable ride, we can make a difference in our kids lives by instilling healthy habits. Here are five habits your family can adopt to encourage your kids to be responsible.
- 1.
AllowanceDo your kids get a weekly allowance? If so, you’re on the right track. Giving children money at a young age can help you teach them financial responsibility. But here comes the hard part. It’s easy to give our kids money. It’s difficult to encourage them to save when you see their face light up at the newest toy. Unfortunately, every parent has to be the bad guy at some point. Try teaching your child to save a portion of her allowance instead of spending the entire thing. So if she gets $10 a week, she has $5 available to spend. You can keep track of this for her and help her save up for things she really wants. For example, if she wants a $10 toy, she’ll need two weeks of allowance. If you start this early, saving will become second nature. 2. PromisesTeach your child to keep his promises. There are two ways you can do this. The first is by example. Never make empty promises just to appease your child. This teaches him that a promise has no value. Second, be sure to hold him to any promises he makes. This is an early introduction to integrity that will stick with your child through his lifetime. If he promises he’ll help a friend, you can bet he’ll do it. You can also bet he’ll show up to work every day too. 3. ChoresWe’ve covered what to do with allowance, but how your child gets an allowance is equally important. If you give your child an allowance for doing nothing, you’re rewarding irresponsible behavior and creating a sense of entitlement. This is one of the worst things you can do.Make sure your child knows which chores need to be done every week and how much she’ll get for each. So if she skips one, she’ll get less money. Similarly, if she only does half of a chore, you may decide to give her half or none of the money. 4. ExerciseTeach your child the importance of staying fit and taking care of his body. Again, you can lead by example and hold him to a minimum amount of activity each week. This may include things like team sports, dance or running. It doesn’t matter what your child chooses. The important part is that he is active. Children who are active in extracurricular activities are less likely to get involved with drugs or alcohol.5. NutritionIf you teach your child poor eating habits, they’re likely to follow her into adulthood. Conversely, healthy eating habits will set the stage for a lifetime of good nutrition. Get your child involved in choosing the menu and cooking the meals. As you cook together, talk about the fresh ingredients and why they’re good for your body. For example, carrots are rich in vitamin A, which promotes healthy skin. In theory, teaching your child responsible habits is easy. In practice, it’s a bit more difficult. You may feel like you’re being mean at times, but this is preparing your child for the real world. If you don’t teach your child how to be responsible, he or she will be completely unprepared for things a typical adult must handle, like paying bills and holding a job. Stand your ground, and you’ll raise healthy, responsible kids.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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