Emily Chan
Making mistakes is an inevitable part of life. No one on this planet is error-free. However, it can be difficult to admit your wrongdoings, especially when you’re a kid. Kids are actually very wary of negative reactions, so when they’ve done something wrong, they are quick to make excuses to shift the blame off of themselves. They want to avoid punishment, feelings of embarrassment, or having someone view them in a bad light.
But children who get into the habit of pointing fingers and refusing to step up and acknowledge their mistakes can turn into untrustworthy adults with a lack of confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
Teaching your child how to recognize their missteps, take accountability, and understand that the acknowledgement does not detract from their self-worth is one of the most important lessons they’ll ever learn.
However, it’s no easy task. It takes work to explain this concept and ensure that it doesn’t go over your child’s head. So, here are some steps you can follow to help your kids learn to accept responsibility and own up to their mistakes.
Stop Constantly Telling Them What To Do
Every day, parents, teachers, coaches, or other authority figures are always instructing kids on what to do. Think about how many times you’ve told your child to put on a coat or finish their homework.
As a result, they hardly have the opportunity to think for themselves, which is what leads them to blame others for their own actions. They don’t even realize that they are the ones who are in control of their behavior.
So, in order to accept responsibility, children need to learn that they’re responsible. For that to happen, you need to stop telling them what to do all the time.
Show Them How To Make Good Choices
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