10 Ways to Hold Kids Accountable
Strong accountable parents encourage, advise, coach, help, serve, remind, teach, confront, reprimand and discipline their children. They do not ENABLE. Don’t start letting your kids get away with things, even when they are little. It isn’t cute to be an entitled adult and that’s exactly what you become when you grow up as an entitled kid. Holding children accountable is a serious matter, but there are easy ways to make it happen.
So here we go - the top 10 ways to hold children accountable:
The "mom voice" You know the one. The voice that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most mischievous children. It's like a superpower that all moms possess.
The "time-out chair" Because sometimes sitting in a tiny chair for five minutes can feel like a lifetime.
The "silent treatment" Sometimes a little bit of silence can go a long way in getting the message across.
The "dad stare" Dads have a special talent for giving a stern, disapproving look that makes kids want to crawl under a rock.
The "grounding" It's like a mini house arrest, but for kids. No phone, no friends, no fun.
The "clean-up crew" Making kids clean up their own messes not only holds them accountable, but also teaches them responsibility.
The "no dessert" rule. Because nothing gets kids to follow the rules like the promise of dessert.
The "task master" Giving kids a task to complete as a consequence for their actions not only holds them accountable, but also teaches them the value of hard work.
The "consequences of actions" talk. Sometimes it's important to have a serious talk with kids about how their actions have consequences and how they can learn from their mistakes.
The "positive reinforcement" approach. Instead of punishing bad behavior, focus on rewarding good behavior. Positive reinforcement can be just as effective in holding kids accountable.
How do you hold your kids accountable? Feel free to share your tips and tricks to raising responsible children.