How to Raise a Respectful Child

**Collaborative post**

Respect is a core skill that should be taught to children from a young age. There’s a lot that can be learnt through being kind, listening to parents, friends and staff at school. But it’s also showing your child how they can reciprocate that level of respect towards others. Naturally, over time, your child will develop an understanding of what’s involved in being respectful. And this can be enhanced as your child goes through different methods and responsibilities at home. Here are some top tips.

Role model respect

Your child will often learn from you. If they aren’t able to see what it means to be respectful then they won’t learn as easily. To give you and your child the best chance to bond, then role model how to be respectful in front of them. Make them feel like they have a grasp of what to do when talking to their elders, or even children younger than them. It’s about expressing a good opinion and letting others offer their input, regardless of age and background.

Give your child different responsibilities

Your child should feel like they have ownership of certain tasks. For example, give your child a range of chores and tasks that get them to become more aware of how they can do their part. There’s a lot your child can help with, like vacuuming, learning how to use the dishwasher or washing machine, and advancing their skills from there.

The act of offering responsibilities to your child helps greatly with their confidence and understanding of how to support others. It shows to you that your child is beginning to comprehend how they can improve their skills as they grow older – great for their communication and self-esteem.

Show your child that you’re aware of their skills

If you are able to demonstrate that you know what skills they have and are aware of where they can improve, it will give your child a lot more motivation. It also shows that you have good skills in seeing where you can offer support to your child, a good way of expressing respect between one another.

Identifying a child’s strengths and weaknesses can work both ways. Your child could find a lot of ways you yourself can improve, which often helps you both build your own skills and the skills your child possesses. This will also break down the barriers, and know that you can lean on each other to build your strength and determination together.

Respect is something that this independent school in South West London will teach their students throughout their studies. And it pays to have your child develop these skills through you as well.