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Creating structure and instilling responsibility are pivotal to fostering maturity and independence in children. With a little effort and perseverance on your part, your kids will develop these traits and blossom into adults with a sense of self worth and value.

Below are a few tips to help you start working with your child on developing responsibility and managing freedom.

Assign chores to your kids. As children age, they increasingly gain the ability to contribute to the household. Chores like feeding pets, washing dishes and taking out the trash offer a sense of responsibility and value.

Allow age-appropriate freedoms. Empower kids and give them space to develop individuality by encouraging them to make certain decisions like what to wear, how to style their hair, how to decorate their room and what music to listen to.

Take it in steps. Children will benefit from being fed responsibilities and freedoms in increments. Giving them too much at once can be overwhelming and may result in fear or insecurity—the opposite effect you’re trying to achieve.

Let them make some decisions. Another way to empower kids is to give them a say in the matter. Consider asking them which chores they prefer and which television shows they would like to watch.

Model good behavior. Start talking with your kids about the importance of responsibility and demonstrate this quality in everything you do. Children learn best by example, and you’re their most influential teacher.

Teach consequences. If you ask your child to pick up his or her toys after playing and that doesn’t happen, consider taking the toys away for a certain period of time. This will link consequence and responsibility and teach your kids that their actions matter.