Peter Ustinov: Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth. Teach Children to Respect by Treating them with Respect
In order to teach or child to treat others with respect and dignity, they must also be treated that way. And childhood is a time for children to learn about the world, including how to get along with others. Parents play an essential role in teaching children how to form healthy relationships and grow into socially adept individuals. This social competence allows children to be cooperative and generous, express their feelings, and empathize with others.
The most effective way to teach children this lesson is by modeling the behavior you want to encourage. Every time you say "please" or lend a helping hand, you are showing your children how you would like them to act. Ask for your children's help with daily tasks, and accept their offers of help. Praise your child's good behavior and traits often, and help them realize how good it feels inside to do a good deed or be generous with another person.
Socially competent children are ones who have a strong sense of self worth and importance. When a child feels good about themselves, it's easy for them to treat others in a positive, helpful manner.
Encourage acts of generosity through sharing and cooperation. Let your child know when it's someone else's turn with a toy or on the swing and praise their ability to recognize this on their own. Thank them for being polite and respectful and for sharing and cooperating.
Children know from their own experiences that words can hurt, and that name-calling, teasing, or excluding others affects how people feel. Children want to be treated fairly, but they don't always understand how to treat others the same way. One way to teach fairness is to explain a rule to your child, pointing out that it applies to him as well as to others.
Parenting Article
Screaming at a child to be quiet or paddling a child for hitting is hypocritical and ineffective.
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As a loving and nurturing parent, it's your job to encourage them to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their individual qualities. Maybe you can walk the dog together on weekend morning, take a shopping excursion together, have a scheduled night each week for a sit-down dinner together, or make a trip to the park. Teach your child that nobody is perfect, and that everyone makes mistakes. And remind yourself also that you're the one in control of your anger; don't let your anger control you.
Older children should then agree to do what you told him to do or cease misbehaving.
Look at your household chore list and decide which ones can be left undone or be done imperfectly in order to make more family time. Take the time to find out what wind-down strategy works best for your child. If you need to, give yourself a brief 'time out' before responding with appropriate discipline. because we have to be at the dentist's office first thing in the morning for your check-up and we can't be late. Hobbies are rewarding and enriching parts of our lives, so encourage your child to explore his own interests and find a hobby of their very own. Time out can successfully be used outside the home such a grocery stores, restaurants, or shopping centers.