How to Teach a Seven-Year-Old Responsibility

Giving your child chores is an effective way to teach responsibility, independence, life skills, self-esteem and family pride, according to a ̶0;Better Homes and Gardens̶1; article entitled, ̶0;Kids and Chores.̶1; Your child learns that everyone must take some responsibility if the family is to run smoothly and cooperatively. By the time your child is 7 years old, she can accomplish various tasks that demonstrate responsibility and help her feel useful. If you are just starting to require your child to demonstrate responsibility, start with a few chores each week and create an accountability system.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Duster
  • Chore chart

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what chores are age-appropriate for your child. Assign your child the responsibility of keeping his bedroom and bathroom area clean and orderly, suggests ̶0;Better Homes and Gardens.̶1; He should already pick up his toys, put away his clothes on laundry days and put dirty clothes and linens where they can be washed. Demonstrate how to run the vacuum and dust the room to your specifications. Tell him to change the sheets on his bed and his bath linens on a specific day each week. Set up a chore chart to keep him accountable.

    • 2

      Tie responsibilities to a sense of independence and self-esteem, suggests Beth Howard in ̶0;The Chore Challenge: Teaching Kids Responsibility̶1; for ̶0;Parents Magazine.̶1; Tell your child, now that she is older, she is capable of taking on more responsibility and earning additional privileges. Setting the table and helping to clear the dishes each night can add 30 minutes to her bedtime limit. Caring for her bicycle can signal that she is ready to ride to school with her friends. Praise her efforts to help around the house, suggests psychologist Dr. Randy Cole on his Terrific Parenting website. Don̵7;t argue, negotiate or get angry when your child refuses to help. Rather, stand your ground and remind your child that she can move to the next activity or assume the next privilege when she completes her responsibilities.

    • 3

      Install consequences for responsibility failures. You can walk him to school like a little kid if he can̵7;t ensure that his bike is locked up each day. Suggest that you will return the dog he wanted if he can̵7;t remember to feed and water her each day. Allow him to get a failing grade if he doesn̵7;t do his homework or leaves it at home. Require him to do additional chores if you must bring him his lunch or if he can̵7;t keep track of his lunch money. Stand firm on the consequences of poor behavior, suggest psychologist Roger B. Allen in his book, ̶0;Common Sense Discipline.̶1; Logical consequences for a 7-year-old are generally mild, compared to the consequences for similar behaviors when he is 15.

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