It is never too early to teach respect
Date :
Tuesday, August 25 2009
Source:
Autourina Mains
Is it possible to teach toddlers respect? That is a question I had one of the school to work high school students ask me. It certainly is a very good question. Adults sometimes don’t realize the theory behind their actions and the impact it has on the child. Sometimes we forget that the child in our care is learning from the moment they open their eyes to the moment they go to sleep. Thus, the care provider has to be thoughtful of every experience the child has throughout the day.
Teaching respect is a vital instrument for developing positive social skills that lasts a life time. There are adults who are very intelligent, well educated and truly brilliant but may have very low social skills and it is hard to connect and associate with them. It is never too early to teach our little ones the concept of respect. Learning to respect will help the child: feel valued, build self-esteem, and fosters kindness, builds the child communication skills, teaches the child to care for others and their feelings and it help the child express his /her emotions and feelings. Some simple strategies include:
Toddlers- Toddlers are just learning how to walk, to talk and exert independence. Toddlers like to show independence by wanting to do tasks on their own. They want to feed themselves, dress themselves, walk on their own and their favorite word is “No”. Toddler years can be the time to teach the child words to express their emotions. Toddlers feel angry, but the only way they know how to express it is by screaming, crying or maybe throwing tantrums. Listen to the child and try to find out what is the reason for the behavior. I had a child one time that refused to wear his shirt. When I asked him what he did not like about the shirt, he pointed to his tag and said “It hurts”. I let him pick a shirt from my loan closet and he was happy the rest of the day. I respected his feelings and gave him options. Giving options to toddlers gives them the power to make decisions. Decision making is a very important lifelong skill. Here a few simple strategies that build respect;
- Find out the core of the problem (why the toddler is unhappy, and what does he/she need or want). Behavior is a form of communication. When the child does not have the words to express him/herself, it is manifested in behavior.
- Don’t get in a power struggle with a 2 year-old.
- Give two options and let the child choose. When the child makes the decision, thank him/her for making a decision.
- Set simple rules and have clear expectations
- Give the toddle words to express his/her feelings (angry, sad, happy, scared, etc.)
- Have a set schedule. Schedule is vital to consistency and predictability. Imagine attending a training, or a meeting or going on a trip without an agenda. A daily schedule helps the child feel organized and allows predictability which in turn decreases behavior issues.
Following these strategies will assure quality care and help the child feel respected, valued and cared for.