A child typically learns the concept of personal responsibility when he's compelled to face the appropriate consequences of a behavior. In order to do this effectively, the consequences you impose must be clear, consistent and void of emotional contamination. When a child is made to address the end-product of his own behavior, he often learns a number of valuable qualities, such as respect, empathy, diligence and financial intelligence.
Step 1
Consider different consequences that may be appropriate for various types of behavior. List several of these consequences on a sheet of paper. Grade each one according to its severity; match it to an equally disagreeable behavior. Review this list several times. Impose any one of your predetermined consequences whenever its corresponding behavior takes place.
Step 2
Set a consequence that teaches something of value to the context. Insist that your child repair any damage he has done before restricted activities are reinstated. Set learning-based tasks for your child to complete, such as constructing a letter of apology or writing down several ways to behave more appropriately in the future.
Step 3
Keep your desired result in mind at all times and set consequences with its achievement in mind. Set a consequence that stands firm until any prerequisite task is performed sufficiently. Make extracurricular activities contingent on the completion of more meaningful duties; hold your child responsible for creating his own "free time."
Step 4
Enforce stern consequences for severe behavior. Consider actions which are blatantly disrespectful or abusive in nature as "big" offenses. Set a time period, maybe days, throughout which no indications of the behavior in question are to occur. Start the clock over if even one violation takes place. Inspire your child to act with discretion in the future by treating such behaviors with the seriousness they imply.
