English
Hmong
Español
How do you get children to show respect for others?
According to Samantha Stern, training and development director at Ebenezer Child Care Centers, “The best way to teach respect is to show respect.”
Remember: You Are A Role Model
Stern says that you must always remember that your children are watching you, and that they will mimic how you interact with your spouse, parents, and other people in your life.
Stern adds that children will also transfer how they are treated by you onto their siblings and friends. For this reason, she says you should always be on your best behavior.
“If your children feel that you don’t respect them, they are certain to transfer this feeling of lack of respect onto their teachers or other authority figures in their lives,” Says Stern.
Another thing to remember, is that it is extremely important to show empathy toward your children. When children know that you truly care about how they think and feel, they will learn how to treat others in this same way.
Correcting Negative Behaviors
Stern says that when you see your children demonstrating negative behaviors, it is best to point them out right away, and let them know that the behaviors are not acceptable. For example, if Amanda is saying hurtful things to her brother, she should be told that she needs to use kind words. If she does not stop, she will have to go to her room. If she does not stop and is sent to her room, she can return when she is able to use kind words.
Praising Positive Behaviors
Likewise, if you are out to dinner and your children show respect when ordering their meal and then use good manners, be sure to praise them for their outstanding behavior. Tell them that you are proud of their behavior and give specific examples of what they did right. It’s just as important to praise positive behaviors as it is to correct negative behaviors!
Ebenezer Child Care Centers, Inc. will be hosting a FREE Family Fun Night on “Teaching Children Respect” on Wednesday, May 20, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at their Oak Creek Center located at 220 W. Forest Hill Avenue. Come learn more about teaching children respect and enjoy dinner on us. This event, which is sponsored by Children’s Hospital’s Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Fund, is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Please call 414-643-5070 to register.
Ebenezer Child Care Centers, Inc. is a not-for-profit, locally based agency committed to providing early care and learning programs from the heart.
The agency prides itself on being different from other child care providers in that it offers a home-like atmosphere, individualized, nurturing care, and a structured curriculum that is virtues-based for every child’s developmental stage. Every Ebenezer Child Care Center focuses on all aspects of a child’s development: cognitive, physical, emotional, and social.
The agency has locations in downtown Milwaukee, on Milwaukee’s southside, and in Greenfield, Oak Creek, and Wauwatosa. The agency’s main office is located at 1496 South 29th Street, Milwaukee. For more information, please call 414-643-5070 or visit the agency’s website at https://www.ebenezerchildcare.com/.