Teaching respect to your child means making him understand that he must also take others into account.
Respect is one of the values that can be taught very early but can be difficult to understand until the age of 4 or 5 years old. Because of his brain maturity, the child has difficulty putting himself in the place of others and understanding a point of view different from his own.
How to learn respect before 5 years old?
Until this age, the child is not yet developmentally mature enough to understand that others also have a point of view, emotions and a desire. However, it is never too early to encourage him to behave respectfully, whether towards other children or adults.
To help him consider others, you can talk to him about how you feel or your emotions when he hurts you or takes an object that belongs to you in a game, for example: “It hurts me when you pull my hair”. Show him the example by asking him to do like you for polite expressions such as saying “hello”, “thank you” or “bye”.
And after 5 years?
From this age, the child begins to develop empathy which helps him to understand the impact he can have on others. For example, you can talk to him about his emotions: “When he took your toy you were sad, well it’s the same when you do the same thing to your boyfriend”.
This is also the time to teach him to respect objects, and in particular his toys and those of others. Encourage him to tidy up and take care of his environment, and don’t hesitate to use the example of his favorite cuddly toy to help him respect adult objects: “You wouldn’t want us to damage your cuddly toy, the same goes for granny’s lamp”.
Find out more: “I help my child grow with respect”, by Aliette de Panafieu, Eyrolles editions.
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