Many people have come to believe that respectful children are not born, but made.
While there are many respectful children around, others seem to have little or no respect at all.
Respect is not one of the traits that can be inherited. Rather respect is nurtured and cultivated.
Respectful children are usually the delight of parents and those they come in contact with. Disrespectful children on the other hand disgrace and torment their parents and the rest of society.
The importance of respect as an attribute is huge as it can positively affect the chances of a child to progress in life.
Being something that is learned, parents must help their children acquire behaviors needed to survive in an educated society.
The following tips can help parents teach their children respect.
Below are some childcare tips for parents in raising respectful children.
Set Boundaries.
Children are expert copycats. They do not know what good or acceptable behavior is.
By setting boundaries and sticking to them, children gradually become aware of what is acceptable and what is not.
Show Them, Don’t Preach.
Several pieces of research have shown that children are experts when it comes to copying what they see.
You may do all the talking and preaching you want, but if you do not do what you say, neither will the children.
Parents should show and act out the respectful behavior they want their children to imbibe.
Children will pick-up most of these good behaviors because copying is an essential part of their development.
Discipline, Don’t Punish.
There is a big misconception out there on what it means to discipline a child. Many people confuse discipline with punishment.
While discipline teaches responsibility, punishment emphasizes the bad behavior of the child.
While both strategies might have some kind of punitive action, discipline always aims to correct wrong behavior.
Although corporal punishment is popular in many societies, some research suggests that behavior improved after corporal punishment was barred.
Reward Your Children.
Many people are quick to discipline and punish but seldom reward their children for good behavior.
Positive reinforcement is however one of the best ways to teach children the right kinds of conduct.
By rewarding your children each time they exhibit good behavior, you reinforce desirable conduct.
Respect Your Children.
One of the biggest mistakes of parents is to think their children deserve no respect.
But children are human beings with emotions and can also get hurt when treated unfairly.
When you show respect to your children, they feel good, learn, and reciprocate the gesture towards others.
Teach them Accountability.
One of the best ways to teach your children respect is to be accountable.
When you hold children accountable, you develop their sense of trust and responsibility.
By realizing that their parents expect them to behave in a certain way, children work hard to not let their parents down.
Believe in your Children.
When children realize that you have little or no belief in their ability to do the right things, they’ll do the wrong things.
Children who are trusted are more motivated not to let down their parents. Children love their parents go the extra mile to retain their trust.
If you do not believe in the ability of your children to be respectful, so will they.
Your children’s potential to grow and develop a sense of goodness depends on your belief in their capacity to do so.
Conclusion.
Much of the problem we have in our societies is largely the result of a lack of respect for ourselves and our institutions.
The importance of raising respectful children in our society cannot be overemphasized. People who imbibe this positive trait have a sense of trust and safety among other people.
Although it’s easier to teach and mold a child’s behavior at an early stage, it’s better late than never.