Expectations for Responsibility and Accountability

One of the important aspects when we talk about these two concepts is that we have to as parents, take into account the developmental stages of children when we factor expectations into the mix. On that show (which airs this Sunday at 9am on Village 900AM or www.village900.com), we discussed what expectations are appropriate for the various ages. With the first age grouping—up to 5 years—you really made it clear that we do not place too many expectations on our children with respect to accountability and responsibility. This is the time that children are learning through play. During these years we can mirror their feelings of happiness and frustration, etc. when we observe them at play. Not all the time but often enough that they start to understand the feeling associated with words.

During this stage they may want to help with various chores but it is certainly not the time to be handing out chores with high expectations. This really is a time for learning through play not work. As you said play is their work.