Welcome to MyYoungChild.org...
Stories
- Cory Learns to Tell the Truth
- Sharing with Friends
- Gilbert the Goat Learns Respect
- Silly Lilly Remembers her Manners
- A Tree Grows: a Story about Patience, Self-esteem and Diversity
- Rosa the Rabbit Learns to be Fair
- Rosa the Rabbit Takes Responsibility
- Ramon Sticks up for Himself: A Story about Bullying
- Feeling Happy
Gilbert The Goat Learns Respect
Awareness of what it means to have and show respect for others develops as the infant and toddler comes into contact with an ever increasing number of people and social situations. Children need regular discussion of the value of this trait; that discussion can grow out of real life situations as well as from stories.
Two and three year olds
Two and three year olds tend to be very
focused on their own wants and needs. Those who have siblings
or are in day care will be more aware that they must accommodate
others, but respect as a concept is too abstract for them.
What you can do
At this stage, teach your child to behave in
ways that is considerate of others in a practical matter. For
example, reinforce turn taking and use of words like please or
thank you.
Four and five year olds
Four and five year olds are very involved
in socializing. They tend to be intensely aware of the importance
of friends. However, developmentally they are still concerned
with their own needs and are likely to have to be reminded to
show the same respect to others that they expect to be shown.
What you can do
At home and at school, children of
this age will need coaching on respecting the needs and feelings
of people around them, on the importance of following directions,
waiting for their turn and acting thoughtfully. As you model and
discuss these points, be sure to emphasize how showing respect is
a good way to gain approval and build friendships.
Six and seven year olds
Six and seven year olds should have many
examples of people being respectful or disrespectful in their
daily lives, and will be able to understand the concept of respect
if you demonstrate it with examples.
What you can do
Ask children to give you their own observations
during their daily lives when people are or aren’t respectful
of each other. Examples might include being disrespectful to
someone in a store by behaving badly or speaking rudely to them,
or not using manners. Emphasize that showing respect means treating
someone like they would like to be treated, and discuss what
this means in practical terms.