5 Tips For Teaching Your Children To Respect Their Elders

Teaching Children To Respect Elders

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Many of today’s children struggle with respecting their elders. Families are disconnected, spread apart, and often don’t have the time or the means for one another. By teaching your children respect for their elders, however, you can provide the foundation for healthier relationships in their future.

1. Model Respect

It’s easy to mouth off when you’re angry with your parents or your in-laws. Unfortunately, your kids quickly pick up on that and may mimic your lack of respect themselves. Instead, model respectful behavior even when they know you’re fuming. Make sure that you are doing all that you can to be a great example of respect yourself.

2. Make Family A Priority

Family is important–and unfortunately, all too often, it falls by the wayside. When an older family member needs something, from help ordering medical equipment from a place like Corner Home Medical following a hospitalization to an extra hand around the house, make providing it a priority. Show your kids that it’s an honor, not a burden, to be able to help. Keep in mind the attitude that you want your kids to have concerning helping you when you’re older!

3. Connect More Often

Whether you live just down the street or halfway across the country, there are plenty of opportunity for you and the kids to connect with elderly loved ones in your life. Make phone calls, send care packages, and visit whenever you’re able. You don’t want to wait until your loved one is receiving hospice care from places like Corner Home Medical to try to reshape a connection!

4. Create Opportunities For Interaction With All Generations

From the time your child is small, look for opportunities to allow them to engage and interact with people from different generations. Take them on nursing home visits, go to the park and chat with the parents and grandparents of other kids, or let them go shopping with you and interact with other customers and workers.

5. Shape Their Behavior Gently

When you see a behavior that you don’t agree with, look for the reason behind it. Teach your child respect by respecting them. Is there a reason he doesn’t want to help with the chores right now? Is she struggling to be around Grandma because of something Grandma said at their last visit? Shape behavior gently and be understanding of your child’s feelings in the process.

Teaching your child to respect their elders is a critically important step in their education. A respectful child is one who will ultimately be successful in life. Not only that, children who respect their elders are more likely to offer you the respect you deserve throughout your entire life.