Teaching Children Respect For Others

Respect for others is an important lesson kids have to be taught, ideally, by their own parents. However, teaching kids respect is often not a priority in modern parenting. When kids learn to respect others it proportionately increases their own sense of self-worth and happiness. This has not been scientifically calculated as far as I know, but it is a known fact that when you respect others they accord you the same respect which in turn makes you feel good and appreciated. So, as unimportant as it may seem, it is still a good idea to teach your kids to treat others with respect and in turn expect the same from others.

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Respect for Children

It is equally important for your kids to be treated with respect. They should be taught from an early age to expect respectful and loving treatment from elders and others. This holds true especially when they start school. Bullying is a hallmark of kids who lack self-respect. If your child becomes a victim of bullies, it is an infringement of their right to respectful treatment in addition to the physical and mental trauma inflicted.

Take all measures necessary to ensure your little child is treated respectfully by other students and staff. If you find it is not possible for them to do so, remove your child from the situation. Broken bones may heal, but a broken spirit is a lifelong source of pain.

Respect for Others

Respect is an appreciation of the worth of another person. It is an esteem you feel and show, for a number of reasons. What matters is not the reason, but the emotion. It is easy to feel respect for sports persons, high achievers, national leaders, and sometimes even movie stars. But when it comes to closer home, or even in the community, there is a lack of respect for other members.

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Respect teaches

• Tolerance for Others
• Love for your Country
• Acceptance of Other Faiths
• Communal Harmony
• Healthy Appreciation of Different Cultures
• Caring for Elderly and Disabled

What Parents Can Do

Do not talk disrespectfully of family members, friends, acquaintances, school teachers, political figures, heads of states, sales clerks, spouse, in-laws, and neighbours within earshot of your kids. They pick up the sarcasm and apply it unconsciously, believing it's cool to be disrespectful. Rude, cheeky behaviour to peers and elders should be discouraged and explained as not acceptable.

Growing Without Respect

Rude kids, if unchecked, grow into rude adults. They are the ones that spread ill humour and ruin your day at check-out queues, on the streets, in public transport, sales counters, offices, and restaurants. Surely you, the parents,  don't want to contribute to that. So teach your kids the healthy habit of respect for others.