Responsibility

According to, Fifty Ways to Enhance Self-Esteem, building a sense of personal power and responsibility provides an important foundation for the development of self-esteem. This foundation permits a person to feel capable and confident. Having personal power does not mean having control over others, being manipulative or domineering. What it does mean is that people have control over themselves and are aware that their own actions contribute to what happens in their lives, and that what they do makes a difference.

1.    Help children develop effective decision-making skills

·       Let them make decisions when appropriate.

·       Provide regular opportunities for making choices.

·       Give your reasons for your own beliefs and values and invite them to do the same.

·       Encourage them to follow through on their own decisions.

2.    Establish tasks and permit children to complete them in their own way whenever possible.

3.    In problem situations, decide whose problem it is

·       If it is your problem, you solve it.

·       If it is their problem, let them solve it.

·       Point out that everyone involved may be contributing to the problem.

4.    Have children focus on solving the problem once it has been defined.

·       Ask questions that will help lead to solutions. (What could be done to improve your appearance? What could be done to make you a better student?)

·       List acceptable solutions and let them choose one.

·       Let them offer their own solution.

·       Assist them in evaluating the way the problem was solved.

5.    Build self-reliance

·       Allow people to do for themselves those things they can do, even if it’s not done as well as you could do it.

·       Be supportive without being too hasty to help.

·       In giving praise, be sincere and specific.

6.    Help children understand that they are responsible for their own feelings.

·       Adults and children see and respond to similar situation from their own point of view.

·       Adults and children can choose how they will feel and how they will respond to any situation in their lives.

·       An effective way to respond to labeling is to focus on the behavior that led to the labeling.

7.    Assist children to determine those things for which they

     are responsible.