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The Respectful Child

An Excerpt

By Elizabeth Pantley

Parents with knowledge and skills to tackle the job of raising children will find it easier to raise respectful children. When you have good parenting skills you will find that discipline is an easy task. This means reading a few good books or taking a parenting class to help you maintain control of the parent-child relationship in a way that fosters respect in the family.

Letting kids get away with bad behavior only breeds more of the same. Make sure your kids know the rules of the family and that you discipline appropriately when rules are broken.

Firm and fair discipline is not haphazard and does not change depending on your mood. It requires a consistency that your kids can count on. (They may not like it, but they can count on it!) I've heard it said that it's not the severity of a consequence that makes it effective, but the certainty of it. When your kids know exactly what your expectations are, and that there will be a penalty for failing to meet those expectations, they will more likely behave in an appropriate manner.

Your praise and encouragement have a tremendous impact on your child. "Praise" messages are not all verbal, either. An OK hand signal, a wink, a smile, a hug. All these speak volumes to a child who has just done something right. These positive messages reinforce a child's goodness, and encourage more of the same positive behavior.