| There is a saying that goes something like this: | | | | As their parents, you will do well by your children by |
| "respect is not deserved until it is earned". When it | | | | encouraging them to offer acts of kindness and |
| comes to teaching children respect, actions speak | | | | generosity to others by showing respect. A spirit of |
| louder than words. You can say all the right things to | | | | cooperation is a beautiful thing and appreciated by |
| your child about having respect for others but, until you | | | | others. When they are younger, let them know that |
| have shown respect, it will most likely fall on deaf ears. | | | | the right thing to do is take turns. Whether it is with a |
| That being said, it is clear that parents have a huge | | | | toy or on the swing, when they follow through with |
| responsibility at both showing and teaching respect to | | | | your teaching on proper respect for others, |
| their children and, in so doing, enable their children to | | | | compliment them generously. Make sure to tell them |
| form a healthy respect for others. | | | | how proud you are of them for being polite and |
| As has already been pointed out, the most effective | | | | respectful of others. |
| way of teaching your children the art of respect is to | | | | One final thought: children naturally know what it is to |
| model it through your own actions. When you explain | | | | be hurt by the unkind acts of others, but they don't |
| the importance of saying 'please' and 'thank you' by | | | | naturally know how to properly respond to this |
| doing it yourself, you reinforce in your children how | | | | emotional injury they experienced. It is your |
| they should also act. A perfect application would be to | | | | responsibility as their parents to convey why others |
| ask for your children's help around the house and, | | | | hurt and then to encourage them to not hurt back. To |
| when they complete the task, thank them. Give them | | | | return evil for evil is never the answer. To return good |
| kudos for a job well done; this will instill in them the | | | | for evil is an amazing approach to learning how to |
| desire to show forth good behavior, because it will help | | | | handle all situations, both good and bad. This type of |
| them to feel good about what they have done to help | | | | response is borne from someone who is not only |
| others. | | | | comfortable with who they are, but has been taught |
| Children that are well adjusted at home and have | | | | correctly how to show respect in a world that can be |
| been given a strong sense of self worth are socially | | | | cruel. You will do well as parents to convey this |
| competent in public and will mirror your good manners | | | | mindset in your children to not only guard their hearts |
| to others. It is a fact that, when a child feels good | | | | should someone strike out in a hurtful way, but to also |
| about themselves, they are more likely to treat others | | | | prepare them to go out and change the world for the |
| with respect and appreciation. | | | | better by first respecting themselves. |