How do you teach respect?

AviatorJJ

How do you teach your 4-6 year old to respect other people? Adults?

KathrynMD

model it, discuss it, and praise them to high heaven when they do; gently correct them when they don't.

Mrs Manners

KathrynMD:

model it, discuss it, and praise them to high heaven when they do; gently correct them when they don't.

That. And repeat, repeat, repeat. It's exhausting but I can already see it paying off with a polite child that other adults enjoy (or at least don't mind) being around or inviting to their home.  

KatFCo

Choose specific behaviors you want to see in the child. It's easier to teach specifics rather than just the vague "respect." For example, we expect our 4.5 yo to say hello and goodbye, look at people when talking to them, use a proper tone, and say please and thank you.

After several weeks of reminding and modeling, DD is now to the point where if she forgets to say thank you to the person holding the door at church, all I have to do is say her name and she remembers.

Above all, as PP said, model the behaviors you want to see in your child.

kmhunt11

In addition to all of the above (great suggestions!) I think it's important to explain why we are respectful of one another.  I ask DD to tell me who she thinks it makes others feel when she does or says something specific- either nice or not nice.  

Pesky

KathrynMD:

model it, discuss it, and praise them to high heaven when they do; gently correct them when they don't.

This.  And I try to put it in terms they can understand more easily than the term "respect".  I put a value on things like "listening" -- we listen to our friends and family, do what is asked and pay attention to what our friends are requesting.  Things like manners -- saying hello or excuse me, thank you and so on.

AgrippaRidesAgain

kmhunt11:

In addition to all of the above (great suggestions!) I think it's important to explain why we are respectful of one another.  I ask DD to tell me who she thinks it makes others feel when she does or says something specific- either nice or not nice.  

Definitely this.  DS needs to understand the reason why I am asking him to do an action, particularly when it involves speaking to others.

Ready4life

I teach my 3 year old respect by giving her respect. I always acknowledge her feelings and thoughts. In return, she has been doing the same thing towards others. 

franciscaz

We talk about feelings a lot.  We are blessed to have siblings so close in age that share everything.   So I try to take advantage of those opportunities at home when they arise.  For example if Cally steals a toy, I talk to Harmon as well how he felt that his toy was taken.  I try to make everything a teachable moment.  Ask before you take something.  Don't sneak.  Please and thank you for everything.  It is hard though.  I think it is so against natures at this age and so it takes constant reinforcement.

Mrs.Saxy

Mrs Manners:

KathrynMD:

model it, discuss it, and praise them to high heaven when they do; gently correct them when they don't.

That. And repeat, repeat, repeat. It's exhausting but I can already see it paying off with a polite child that other adults enjoy (or at least don't mind) being around or inviting to their home.  

and make them try again after you tell them what they should've done.

 example- If DS yells at me, I look at him and tell him, "When you yell, mommy is not going to listen. If you want mommy to do something, say 'Mommy, please can I ___?'"  Then he repeats and I do it.  We've done that since he could talk and 90% of the time he does it automatically. 

jlw2505

Lead by example is huge and other than that, we talk about what we expect - when do you use thank you and your welcome and things like that.