Life Skills- 5 A's of Accountability

Last Updated on Monday, 14 November 2011 10:28 Written by Don Nenninger Monday, 14 November 2011 10:10

Life Skills -The Five A’s of Helping Children Learn Accountability

An important part of the experience of children is pushing against limits, exploring boundaries, and seeing how to function within boundaries.  They are not bad or wrong for following these normal behaviors.  Our job as parents is to coach them through these experiences, empowering them with life skills.  As the child ages, they've learned how to make good decisions and realize there are consequences for unwise decisions.  Help your children learn healthy responsibility by removing excuse-based behavior from acceptable responses by using a consistent system which allows for their growth. Relying on the random enforcement of confusing rules which are not clear or have no consequence is an ineffective method of dealing with these situations.

Children want to avoid the feelings of shame and embarrassment at all costs.  They often have difficulty owning their behaviors because of these associated feelings..  Being blamed or shamed does not improve the chances for them to own behaviors.  To avoid feeling these emotions they rationalize, excuse or “but” their behavior onto some external source. Instead, put the 5 A' into practice.

1. What was the Action they took?
2. Why are they Accountable?
3. Let’s Acknowledge that there is an issue.
4. Assess what needs to change in the future.
5. See if Amends are needed.

After they have misbehaved, children hide behind the word "but” justifying their behavior by assigning responsibility to an outside force which “made” them behave in a certain manner.  Justifying inappropriate behavior leads to increased negative ramifications later in life.  As they learn about consequences, decision making process clarified.  For example, if you ask them to unload the dishwasher and they chose to play video games instead, you will often hear "mom, I was going to, but…"  This is the rationalization and here is when a parent must hold their child accountable.

Accountability means clearly conveying how their action or inaction is their responsibility and since it’s their responsibility; they are accountable.  Remember, the earlier this message is conveyed to a child (in a contextually appropriate manner), the easier parenting is.  It makes sense doesn't it?  Trying to teach a 16 or 17-year-old accountability after years of being unaccountable or having excuses made in their behalf, present a tougher challenge than if you had spent that time teaching accountability lessons.

When a child discovers how they are responsible, they have the opportunity to make a different choice.  When they learn from this paradigm, acknowledgement comes more quickly.  When a child is dealing with their emotional complexity of feeling blamed and shamed it is very challenging for them to acknowledge their actions.  If the paradigm becomes one of learning opportunities presented and that these opportunities are part of the process of growth, children are being presented an opportunity to grow.

Eliminate the excuse of children to justifying their actions by blaming another.  This appears in sentences following the word “but.” After that, you are going to hear a rationalization, excuse, or blame of some external force.  Parents can step in and help the child to assess the situation.  What was the action?  Why did you take the action? Why did you think was right or why did you think it wasn't wrong?  This process of assessment is focused on finding out how the child thinks.  They don't look at things as an adult would.

Children can only act with the tools or consciousness they have; in this case-the behavior that is inappropriate.  Most children, if given the right life-skill for the situation, have high levels of empathy and understanding.  When you only have a hammer- everything looks like a nail.  We have to fill their “life-skills” tool belt with more than a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, pliers, and other powerful ways to handle complex emotions and situations they don’t yet know how to handle.  When you assess these together, you work as a team to set clear expectations for future behavior and consequences for inappropriate behavior.  Change doesn’t take place overnight.  As you use this system, blame and shame is being removed from the interaction and the paradigm shifts towards accountability.

It’s impossible to make amends in each and every situation.  If it can be done, whether a simple apology or symbolic token it often helps the closure process.  Be aware of being manipulated by the quick "I'm sorry” with the child attempting to move on.   Often, there are times this is used as a means to distance themselves from the consequences of their behavior.  You will learn to develop a sense as to whether this statement is authentic or not.

Conscious parenting is a complex endeavor.  We do our best in each situation but we’re all fallible. Own this in front of your children.  As you display your humanness, you also show them you are growing and trying your best.  This way you mentor them and assist them in learning more complex ways of handling situations.

Despite what you say to your children, the model you exhibit is much more powerful.  When consciousness and humanity is displayed dealing with their shortcomings and mistakes, you present an opportunity for connection that goes beyond a particular incident.  You do your best; they do their best.  This leaves blame and shame and instead embraces a paradigm of respect, consciousness, and communication.