Teaching our kids courtesy and self-control
- Little children don’t misbehave, they do what comes naturally. They depend upon us to teach them EVERYTHING!
- Children mirror us: We are our child’s role model. We need to behave in the way we’d like them to behave.
- If we want our child to be civil and kind and respectful, we need to consistently demonstrate civility, kindness, and respect toward our child and everyone else.
- Try to only use language that you’re comfortable with your child repeating.
- Say please and thank you to your child.
- Tell the truth.
- Make every touch a loving, gentle, respectful touch.
- Keep in mind how powerful you are when compared with your child and set limits in a way that’s consistent, firm, and kind rather than unpredictable, angry, and punitive.
- Saying “no” is essential to helping your child develop self-control, frustration tolerance, and good judgement.
- We can help our child learn to soothe him or herself when frustrated, but we should generally avoid reversing a “no.”
- Provide supervision and constructive feedback when your child is in the company of smaller children and pets.
- Teach courtesy and self-control from the time they’re very small.
- Expect your child to be wary of new and potentially frightening experiences and help them get familiar and, therefore, more comfortable with them.
- Take your child with you when you have your hair cut. Let him or her sit on your lap or right nearby and talk with them about how much fun you’re having.
- Bring them along when you see your dentist and let them sit with another adult and watch.
- Take them to restaurants and other public places, pay close attention, and help shape how they behave.
- The goal is to teach your child the skills that will help them manage their own behavior and successfully navigate interpersonal relationships and the world around them.
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