How do you raise respectful kids?

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It can be a difficult task to teach the values of showing respect, courtesy to a 2 year old or even a 4 year old child. After all, he or she is at a stage where they are totally oblivious to any societal norms and are only concerned with their own surroundings. Moreover, they are also unable to strike any conversation or express themselves. But as a parent, it is vital to still let him know that you understand what he is trying to say and are not ignoring him. Children have that instinct to immediately know if they are being heard or ignored.

You have to be able to do the following to promote respectful behavior in the child;

a) Demonstrate respectful behavior – If you want your child to be respectful, you need to walk the talk and exhibit respectful behavior towards the child. You have to see eye to eye, pay attention and show interest in what he is trying to communicate to you.

b) Exhibit politeful behavior towards others – You must remember that your child is constantly watching you and will mimic you as he grows older. It is vital therefore for you to exhibit politeful behavior towards everybody you come across in his presence. Usage of the right words is key to this behavior along with appropriate body language.

c) Do not overreact – Our initial responses to many situations may not be always be setting the right example to our children. We do tend to over react at times, show unusual happiness or become upset at minor things. Similarly showing disappointment or disapproval of any aspect in our lives must be done in a toned down manner for the child to get the right message.

d) Expressing disagreements – Our reaction towards showing disagreements and body posture is very pertinent. Children will do exactly what we have shown them. So when children do not exactly do as we tell them to do, we must show our disagreement in a firm manner that is not dramatic or over the top. We should be able to get agreement from the child through affirmative responses and alternate solutions to any specific request we may not be able to comply with at that point in time. This will indicate to the child that it is possible to show disagreement in a dignified manner and yet agree on something that is mutually acceptable.

e) Setting limits – The child will express what it knows best without thinking of the consequences either at home or outdoors. As a parent, we cannot be tolerant to improper behavior in a social place and at the same time need to be firm in setting limits as to what is acceptable behavior. So if your child becomes unruly at a supermarket and you have tried all that you can, we need to exhibit positive discipline to the child so that he understands he cannot throw a tantrum and get away with it every time. This could be in the form of taking him out of the supermarket to the car and allowing him to vent his frustration before taking him inside again.

f)Praising right behavior – It is most important to boost child psychology by praising him for correct behavior. Children are extremely sensitive to both praise and criticism. Since we may as parents need to do both, we have to be careful of balancing them so that the child recognizes the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

It is our duty as parents to raise respectful kids such that they contribute positively to society and make us proud parents.