Places for Teens to Learn Responsibility

At Home

• Don't discount your own home as a prime place to breed responsibility in your teen. Just because he may want to go out into the world and act like an adult doesn't mean he is ready to do so without your guidance. Think of chores that go above and beyond what your teen did as a younger child. According to the National Mental Health and Education Center, chores can teach your teen the sense of responsibility that he will need someday when he lives on his own. Additionally, having to complete assigned chores can help your teen set and meet goals. For example, tasking him to keep the bathroom clean will help him take responsibility for a prime household chore and prepare him for housekeeping activities that he will engage in as an adult.

Jobs

• The teen years are a time period when many kids take on their first real jobs. Working outside of the home can help your teen to develop a sense of responsibility as she has to show up, stick to a schedule and follow the directions that her boss gives to her. The pediatric pros at the KidsHealth website note that popular first places to work include retail stores, fast-food restaurants, amusement parks, swimming pools and grocery stores. Another top choice for a first teen job is babysitting. Giving your teen the task of caring for and supervising a younger child will provide her with a sense of responsibility that she may not have had before.

School

• Although school is certainly nothing new for your teen, he can use the academic environment as a place to learn responsibility. As he moves into middle and high school, your teen must act more independently than he did in the grade school years. Along with the teen years typically comes increased expectations for your child to take control of his own education by doing his homework without your assistance and taking the initiative to achieve on his own. Additionally, he will also need to take responsibility when it comes to following a schedule of classes that necessitates moving from classroom to classroom before the bell rings.

Social Situations

• While your teen may seem like she's spending more time with her friends than with you, don't think that this will necessarily lead to a lack of responsibility. Taking charge of social situations, following your rules for going out with friends and negotiating the rocky road of relationships can all help adolescents to learn about responsible behavior. For example, if your 16-year-old wants to have a big birthday bash, ask her to help you with the planning tasks. Creating a guest list, working out details such as a menu or activities and taking charge at the actual event can all showcase her budding sense of responsibility.