by Gabby Bugwadia

Created on: March 15, 2011

Respect is a critical component of a fine personality. It is a mark of good upbringing and a positive human trait which works wonders for one’s self-esteem. Teaching your children to respect you would be the primary first step to teaching them to respect others. It could turn out to be one of the best expertises you could ingrain in your children.

Life experiences repeatedly indicate that respect is a two-way street.  It works both ways; to earn it, you as parents would need to be respectful yourself. It is only then you would be better able to teach children to respect you. Many-a- times, parents get so caught up in their fast paced lives that they fail to give attention to this important aspect.

Parents tend to believe that it is solely their prerogative to gain respect from their children. They oft tend to believe that their children should proffer them the highest respect irrespective of the fact if they deserve it or not. Is this the right attitude which parents need to adopt?

Certainly not! So, let us consider these practical guidelines for teaching children to respect you:

- Encourage obedience

Parents would do well to encourage obedience rather than guard against thrusting ‘obedience’ on their children. Let your children understand that obedience to parental authority which is deemed as a mark of respect, should be forthcoming purely out of the sheer joy of doing it right’ it cannot ever spring from fear of punishment. As Jerry Wycfoff a psychologist and co-author of Twenty Teachable Virtues, pointed out, “We don’t generally give our children the respect that we demand from them. We get confused because often, our upbringing makes us equate respect with fear.”

- Listen carefully

Parents would need to habitually listen to what their children are saying. Careful listening on the part of parents makes children feel appreciated and important. It is one way of showing respect for your child’s thoughts and “inner” needs. It can give you clues about what’s happening in your children’s life and enable you to provide answers to your children’s growing concerns as they move from one stage of development to the other.

- Mind your manners

 As parents, you are the role model. Consider it of significant importance to use good manners at home as well as outside your home. Practicing good manners is one way of demonstrating respect. Manners are not means of adornments to be put

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