As parents, we often face the issue of discipline.

How do we teach our children to respect?

1. Model respectful behaviour: The key is to show them how to respect and not tell them. By showing, we demonstrate how we want them to behave. When we parent respectfully, our kids will grow with a solid foundation of knowing what respect looks like, how important it is, and subsequently how to respect others.

2. Stay calm: Don’t overreact to the seemingly disrespectful behavior. The child may not be paying attention or doesn’t know the behavior is disrespectful.

3. Mind your manners: The magic words, ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ go a long way in changing the environment that you’re in and making the situation more positive.

4. Earn respect: It’s often expected that since you’re the parent you require your child to respect you, this is demanding. However, please remember that trust is earned and not demanded. Hence, earn respect and not demand it.

5. Apologize for mistakes: A mature grown-up accepts his/her mistake and takes responsibility for it. Apologize for the mistake done.

6. Enforce positive discipline and praise behavior: Using positive discipline instead of punishing help in teaching that it’s ok since we are human we make mistakes. Also, aids in teaching how to be respectful when others are cruel. Also praising behavior instead of the generic “good boy” and “good girl” praises is what can help children gain respect for the person who respects them.

7. Identify the cause: If a child’s need is not being met, teach them vocabulary and skills to address those needs. This will enable them to gain confidence and respect might be attained in the process.

8. Read the signs: Help your child learn to read people’s emotional signs. Connect the facial expression and body language with the corresponding emotions. Encourage your child to pay attention to how others might be feeling and then show them, through your example, how to react with empathy and compassion.

9. Set limits: It’s important to be firm. “Being kind shows respect for your child, and being firm shows respect for what needs to be done.” If a child is throwing a tantrum, ask them to sit by themselves and then they can join you when the behavior stops.

10. Expect disagreements: Life would be much easier if our kids always happily complied with our request, but that’s not human nature. Try to remember that when your child won’t do your bidding, he isn’t trying to be disrespectful – he just has a different opinion. Teach him that he’ll fare better if he can learn to stop expressing himself disrespectfully.