| When it comes to raising children we all wish for | | | | take care of someone else today?" This gets them in |
| children that are respectful, polite, and honest. He gives | | | | the habit of realizing that other people have needs. It is |
| me a sense of pride when people tell me how | | | | hard to think of other people's needs if you've never |
| wonderful my children are. Now, they may not be that | | | | been taught how to do so. |
| way all the time but I really do have wonderful children. | | | | Tip #4 - Putting Your Words Into Actions - Go Out |
| It takes some work. But what did you expect. It is | | | | And Help Someone |
| called raising respectful children, not some miracle cure | | | | Just talking about it will not make the impact you truly |
| to make your children behave the way you want | | | | want to have respectful children. You are going to |
| because you want them to. | | | | need to put your words into actions. If your child |
| Tip #1 - Saying Thank You and Your Welcome - Be | | | | thought that making a card for a friend would be a |
| Consistent | | | | nice thing to do, then help them make the card. Allow |
| The first place to start in raising respectful children is to | | | | them to deliver the card the same day. If they cannot |
| teach them to say thank you and to say your | | | | deliver it by hand, help them get it in the mailbox today. |
| welcome. The key to this is being consistent. Not only | | | | If they are wanting to give a gift, help them to save up |
| do you need to expect that they will say thank you | | | | the money by doing extra chores around the house. |
| and you're welcome, but you need to also practice | | | | Tip #5 - Volunteer And Get Your Child Involved Too |
| saying thank you and you're welcome. It is amazing to | | | | One of the best ways of teaching your child the value |
| me how many parents are unable to follow their own | | | | of what they have in their life is to allow them to |
| instructions. Do you practice being grateful and kind to | | | | witness and experience what many others go through |
| your children? | | | | on a day-to-day basis. Volunteer in your community. |
| Start by writing out every time you say thank you and | | | | Bring your child with you. Volunteer at the food shelter. |
| say you're welcome to your children. Keep a log of | | | | Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Give them an |
| how you were doing. And then, try and increase the | | | | opportunity to realize that what they have in their life is |
| number of times you have an opportunity to say thank | | | | an abundance, and not a given. |
| you and you're welcome each day. Now, make it | | | | Tip #6 - Sponsor A Child In Need |
| again with your children. Keep track of how often they | | | | There are so many wonderful programs for |
| say it and if you'd like, award a prize for those that | | | | sponsoring children. Allow your child to be involved in |
| increase the number of times each day. The thank | | | | the process of selecting a child a sponsor. It may be |
| you and your welcome must be genuine. | | | | somewhat internationally, work could be someone local |
| Tip #2 - Stop Interrupting Others - Adults and Children | | | | in the community. Either way, allow them to be |
| Alike | | | | involved in choosing who they are sponsoring. Help |
| One area that I am very disappointed in so many | | | | them get to know this child by writing letters, |
| children these days is the way that the interrupt each | | | | understanding their culture, and explaining how your |
| other and the adults around them. There seems to be | | | | gifts are helping. |
| some general ruled that by using the word "excuse | | | | Tip #7 - Give when Given - Get a Toy - Donate A |
| me" that this has somehow given everyone a free | | | | Toy |
| pass to just interrupt the conversation. This is true for | | | | This tip will not only help raise respectful children, but it |
| adults and children alike. And unfortunately it is horribly | | | | will also keep the clutter to a minimum in your house. |
| disrespectful. | | | | Whenever your child receives a new gift or toy, set |
| Here is my solution. Teach your children to come stand | | | | the expectation that they will find one that they have |
| next to you and wait patiently while you are in a | | | | used before and donate or give it away. This ensures |
| conversation. When there is a pause in the | | | | that there is not a constant increase in gifts but an |
| conversation, to encourage this behavior, turn to your | | | | opportunity to share with others when we received |
| child and ask what they need. Once they have gotten | | | | some bountiful gift. What a wonderful lesson for your |
| your attention appropriately you can answer their | | | | children to learn. It teaches respecting others, the value |
| question and handle it in a way that teaches them to | | | | of items, and just helps grow our heart of giving. |
| be respectful to you and to those around you. | | | | There are so many ways that we can work on raising |
| Tip #3 - Thinking Of Others Needs | | | | respectful children. These seven tips are just the |
| Getting your children to think of someone other than | | | | beginning. Be creative. Think about what type of child |
| themselves can be quite a challenge. I have struggled | | | | you want to be known for. What do you want your |
| with this with my children from day one. Some of that | | | | child to be like when they're in their 20s? How are your |
| responsibility falls on me. I have not expose them as | | | | behaviors and attitudes now helping them be that |
| much as I should have. So, be intentional about this one. | | | | person in the future? |
| Set aside time each day and ask them "how can we | | | | |