Through in a Year Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Training Children in Responsibility by Joy Marie Dunlap Character training is, in some senses, the more important focus of a good home school. Our children need adequate knowledge, but even more, they need good character to prepare them for adult life.
Responsibility is one of the most important elements of good character.
Laying the Foundation Responsibility begins with a mentality, or set of presuppositions, which you pass on to your child unconsciously. If your world view is that children should only play and please themselves throughout their childhood, they are sure to live down to that expectation and complain about their chores. If your world view is that children can not help but be selfish and unhelpful, that expectation becomes clear to the child, whether or not you say it right out. The surest way to raise selfish, rude, contentious, unhelpful children is to have low expectations. If, on the other hand, your world view is that everyone should contribute to the well-being of all, no matter their ages and ability levels, your actions, attitudes, and expectations will reflect that, and your young child will begin to learn the value of responsibility.