When children hold themselves accountable for their progress, they not only excel academically, they also become more empowered and invested in their learning. Children are more likely to see failure as an opportunity to learn instead of a stopping point, and are better able to accomplish the goals they set for themselves. Accountability has the potential to increase effort, which research suggests is possibly the most important input in the education process. The more effort a child puts in, the more they will learn!
While helping children remain accountable for themselves and their learning is always important, it is even more important as they get older and parental participation in education begins to pull back. Building a child’s accountability also ensures that they remain on a successful path regardless of educational challenges they currently face.
Here are some suggestions on how to foster accountability in your child:
- Model accountable behavior. Children absorb what they see from their parents and authority figures. When adults demonstrate how to hold themselves accountable, children will better understand what accountable behavior is and learn by example.
- Work with your child to create improvement plans and goals, and then verify the plan or goals by having the child and adult sign off on it. Follow up on your child’s progress and help them achieve their goal. Set goals for yourself as a parent to work alongside your child.
- Create rules together with your child so they understand the purpose behind them and hold them accountable to following them.
- Celebrate small wins along the way!
Teaching children to be accountable for their own progress and success is not always easy, but it can be done with consistent practice and modeling. When children actively invest themselves in their education, they will likely be pleased with the positive outcomes.