How to Teach Kids to Accept Responsibility for Their Actions

Bring on the Tasks

Giving your child responsibility is a great way to teach her to take it on herself. Try these simple chores.

• Making sure a family pet's bowl is always full of clean water or that the plants are watered.
• Hanging up her jacket and backpack immediately after she gets home.
• Keeping track of his schedule and what he needs for school each day, like sneakers on gym days or his instrument for band practice.
• Deciding whether she wants to practice the piano or do homework before or after dinner -- and following through with her choice.

Copyright © 2007. Reprinted with permission from the July 2007 issue of Parents magazine.