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Valuable Lessons
Teaching Toddlers About Responsibility By Mark Stackpole
In conjunction with doing more role modeling, Roehlkepartain believes parents also need to closely monitor their own expectations for their children. "Today, too many children either have parents who do too much for them or parents who expect the kids to do the work of the parents," she says. "Children need to be children. They need the freedom to be curious and play. They also need to be included in the work of the family and community. They can help find all the socks in the clean laundry basket. They can be given a sponge or paper towel to help clean up a spill when they are at childcare. As toddlers help, they listen and learn from the adults who express concern."
"I caught my son, Seth, in his first lie when he was 2," says Brett Levy, a dad from Upland, Calif. "He said he was hungry just as he was supposed to go to sleep. I had become suspicious that he was doing this after several weeks of incidents. Then, I made a huge mistake. I said, 'You're lying!' How could I say something to such a little boy?" asks Levy.
Though Levy's tone was moderate and more shocked than angry, Seth burst into tears. "Did he understand the meaning of the word 'lie'?" says Levy. "I don't know, though it sure seemed that way at the time. It was at this point in my dadhood that I began to realize that kids (or my son, at least) are an open book when it comes to morals. Values and a sense of responsibilityhave to be taught rather than assumed."