Raising a respectful child is at the top of most parents’ wish lists when they consider how they would like their child to turn out.
Respectful children tend to find life that much easier than others. This is because of the improved communication skills they usually demonstrate in addition to their good manners and kindness. Kindness is part of being respectful because kindness has its base in having thought for others which is part of good manners.
Kind, thoughtful children with good manners will make friends easier and earn the respect of the adults around them too.
How and when to start
You can’t begin too early. Begin with the very basics of being respectful, and that’s with “please” and “thank you”. As soon as toddlers begin to speak with clarity then they can be reminded to say please and thank you. If you model this correct behaviour, most children will naturally begin to say please and thank you.
Older children and being respectful
As children approach adolescence it’s quite common for them to push boundaries and lose some of the natural cheerfulness they had as smaller children. It’s vital though that as parents, we stay on top of the idea of respect – and encourage teens and tweens to continue to work on being respectful to others.
Hormones, difficulties with friendships and just plain old growing up can make these things a challenge! Keep an open dialogue with your children so that they fully understand why you need them to be polite and respectful to both the adults and the young people in their lives.
Joining a wide variety of clubs and extracurricular activities such as those offered at this senior school in Surrey can help to round out a teen’s personality. The consistency of meeting with peers on a regular basis and having to adhere to rules and regulations all play a part in ensuring that respectfulness remains a priority for your child.