It’s a parent’s job to teach their children the meaning of respect and the importance of being polite, kind, and honest to others. It isn’t something they’re born with or understand when they’re young; it is something they learn over time.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, which is why I have teamed up with a private nursery in Cardiff to share some advice.
First of all, it’s important to focus on being a good role model.
Children learn much of their behaviour by observing influential people around them, so if you are often disrespectful to others, they will likely follow suit. For instance, don’t shout and swear at people when you’re angry because your child will think this is normal. Don’t use other people’s belongings without asking first. Say please and thank you, and don’t talk over people when they’re speaking.
Essentially, you need to think about how you would like your child to behave, and then show them how it’s done.
Talk about respect and help your child understand what it actually means.
Point out both respectful and disrespectful behaviour as and when you see it. For example, if you notice someone shouting at a cashier in the supermarket, talk to your child about why that is disrespectful once you get home.
Help them to empathise with others so that they start to think about how they act and speak to people.
You should also help your child understand diversity.
No two people are the same and that doesn’t mean they should be treated any differently. In other words, your child needs to respect other people’s beliefs and opinions, even if they are different from their own.
It might be beneficial to promote healthy discussions within your family unit, so that your child can learn how to disagree with people and put forward their own ideas without being disrespectful.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post