24-30 September 2018

Accountability – is accepting responsibility

‘Accountability is the willingness to stand in responsibility for every choice’. All throughout life we learn that we are accountable for so much more than we may have realised at the time.

Teaching children about accountability is done by giving children tasks that they are responsible for while growing up such as setting and clearing the table, feeding the animals, putting away their toys when they have finished playing with them, including putting their outside toys back where they belong after they have used them so they are not left in the open to rust, or risk being stolen.

Being accountable provides a child with the opportunity to feel that they have contributed to the running of the household by doing what is required of them and enables them to feel good (n spite of their potential whining) about completing tasks delegated to them.

As children grow they adapt to taking on larger and more important decisions and develop a more mature understanding of what repercussions may, or may not exist, with each different decision or function.

Learning to be accountable from a young age equips a child to understand their capacity for growth and how they can constantly develop themselves to achieve anything they wish to and even, eventually, be grateful for the role they have played in contributing to within their family, school and community. Humility and courage are learnt along the way which are great gifts you give to them as you guide them throughout life’s journey.