5 Ways to Teach and Encourage Respect

To assist with our current focus on RESPECT, we have compiled 5 ways to encourage your child to be respectful.


ENCOURAGING RESPECT

  1. Model Respect: Children often watch their caregivers looking for clues defining the expectations. If they see parents and teachers treating one another with respect, they will do the same.
  2. Discuss Respect: As children grow, talk about the way we treat others. Focus on the words we use (yes, ma’am; yes, sir; please; and thank you), and the attitudes we portray.  Explain the expectation of respect for others demonstrated in both attitude and behavior.
  3. Teach Turn-Taking: Turn-taking is a skill needed in all aspects of life. Helping children to patiently wait for a turn to speak encourages respectful listening.  Encouraging children to wait for their turn in line or their turn for a toy develops an attitude of patience and respect.
  4. Teach Polite Responses: Infants and young toddlers can begin learning how to use ASL sign language to communicate words like, “please” and “thank you.” As children begin vocalizing, adding phrases to their vocabulary like, “excuse me,” “no, thank you,” and “yes, ma’am/sir” continues to encourage an attitude of respect.
  5. Praise Respectful Behavior: When children demonstrate good manners and respect to others, give specific praise for the positive choices they are making.
Karingal Heights Primary School is a Respectful Relationships School.


Resources:

Ask Dr. Sears. (2013, August 23). “7 Ways to Teach Your Child Manners.” Retrieved on February 18, 2016 from http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/morals-manners/7-ways-teach-your-child-manners

Kear, N. (2010). “The Return of Respect!” Retrieved on February 18, 2016 from www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/manners/the-return-of-respect/

Silverman, R. (2008, April 12).  “10 Tips on Teaching Respect to Children: You can’t get it if you don’t give it!” Retrieved on February 18, 2016 from http://drrobynsilverman.com/parenting-tips/10-tips-on-teaching-respect-to-children-you-cant-get-it-if-you-dont-give-it/

VanClay, M. (2007).  “The respectful child: How to teach respect.” Retrieved on February 18, 2016 from http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-respectful-child-how-to-teach-respect_64686.bc