Children's Games That Teach Responsibility

Learning the important values of responsibility encourages children to become independent and well-rounded individuals. Children can have fun while learning how to become responsible through amusing and educational games. There are different forms of responsibility that are important for children's development, including personal, interpersonal, home and global responsibilities. Games that nurture these values can be easily be incorporated into daily activities.

Personal Responsibility

Teaching children games that instill the value of personal responsibility is vital for development. Playing a game of dress up will help children build responsibility and become more independent. By laying out four different outfits with each outfit being appropriate for one of the four seasons, children can be asked to look outside and decide which outfit is the most suitable for the day's weather. This game will allow children to learn the responsibility of one of their daily living skills, getting dressed. It will also help them build self-confidence. Playing pretend supermarket is another game that will with teach children personal responsibility. Set up a pretend supermarket at home by displaying play food, a basket for carrying the groceries and a toy cash register for when they check out. Children can write a list of groceries down on piece of paper and then pretend to go grocery shopping. They can pick out the play food on their list and learn math skills while counting out play money to pay for their groceries. This game will give children an understanding of the important responsibility of personal finances.

Interpersonal Responsibility

Interpersonal responsibility is the responsibility we have to respect other people. Teaching this social value to children will show them how to be kind to others and treat them the way they would like to be treated. Playing games that involve sharing and turn taking will help to build these skills. Board games like Candy Land and card games like go fish will help children learn to wait his or her turn. Groups of children can also play outdoor games like duck-duck-goose, hop-scotch and jump-roping games or an indoor tea party game using a play teapot, cups, table and chairs, in which they take turns setting the table and pouring tea for each other. These games teach interpersonal responsibility and nurture social interaction.

Teaching Responsibility at Home

Children have responsibilities at home as well as in the world, which they can learn about through fun and helpful games. A game can be created using a spinning wheel from an old board game that can be labeled with household chores that children can easily do, such as setting the table for dinner, feeding the pets, folding laundry or watering plants. Children can have fun spinning the wheel and will be excited to see what chore they land on. This game works well with children of large families because it is far more amusing than following a chore schedule. It will offer children a surprise each day, so that they will not get bored by having the same routine. This game will also provide children with a respect and understanding of the responsibilities that keep a household running.

Global Responsibility

Children can learn to be globally responsible through many creative games. Have a group of children play a recycling game, in which each sorts through their own tubs filled with plastic, paper and aluminum recyclable items. The first child to correctly sort all of the recyclables wins the game. This recycling game will be both enjoyable for the children as well as remind them about the amount of waste people use when they do not recycle. Children can use the new skills they gain to help reduce waste and recycle at home.