What is the definition of "sense of responsibility"? How do you raise your children with this feeling?

Question

I have teenagers and I don't think they feel responsible. They are very lazy.

Answer 1

Meme,
A sense of responsibility is the same as owing a debt. When you are in some way a part of causing good or ill you must follow through, you owe your continued involvement in the circumstance. I taught my children that this holds true even if you had not intended it. "If you caused it, then you are responsible."
They learned by my example. Excellent question, BTW!

Answer 2

1. When you have a "sense of responsibility", it means that you have a sense of what it is like to make mature and adult decisions.
2. I'm only 20, but I'll try and answer this. If you want your kids to have a sense of responsibility, give them responsibilities. Their responsibilities don't even have to be limited to chores. It could something like paying a bill (even if they don't have the money, give them the money and let THEM go and pay it, just for experience), or something like that. Don't coddle them. I find that, behind every lazy teenager is an over-indulgent parent.

Answer 3

A sense of responsibility is at its core an understanding of the law of cause and effect. It's the knowledge that whatever they do, there will be an effect, good or bad, and the willingness to admit that they aren't perfect and that the world doesn't owe them a thing.

Give them chores. If they don't do their chores, then they don't get something they value (permission to borrow the car, allowance, whatever). If they DO do the chores, then they get to keep those privileges - and if they do more than that, they get rewarded.

One of the worst things you can do to kids is to protect them from the consequences of their own actions. As long as you do that, they'll never take responsibility.

Answer 4

I was raised having the sense of responsibility, My parents well..my MOM raised me I can say fairly. She always gave me responsibility that I know if I do not do will affect not just me but the people around me, she let's me watch news and explains why that happened and what I should do to prevent it from happening. She gives me obligation and responsibility that she knows I can do and I can figure out until I was old enough to have responsibilities of my own, My brothers and I was not spoon fed, we were loved so much but we were never spoon fed. We just knew that we are responsible for our own actions, if we do something my mom do not catch us everytime we fall/fail, she lets us sort things out, she was lenient in a way that we can have our own mistakes and figure it out afterwards,learn from it and not repeat the same mistakes. Sense of responsibility comes from the need of being able to accomplish something that we know that we should do and the rewards will be good. The thought that you are concern and accepts the fact that your kids is lazy and irresposible is a good sign, usually parents tend to be overprotective..i say let them stumble and fall..let them have wounds then from there guide and for sure they will learn. You sound concern and for that I applaude you for accepting the reality. good luck!

Answer 5

By making them accountable for their actions. It is very easy to make up an excuse for why you are counterproductive, and then pass the "responsibility" on to someone else.