It’s hard to give a simple definition of respect, but it boils down to treating others with kindness and compassion and recognizing their worth, and caring about the impact our words and actions have on them.
Respect is a skill for kids to learn, just like any other social-emotional skill. It falls under the category of collaboration, one of the 6Cs at the heart of the Begin Approach to helping kids thrive.
Here are some ways to explain to young children why respect is important and tips for teaching them how to show respect to others.
Key Takeaways
- Respect is a learned skill that involves empathy, understanding, and treating others the way you want to be treated.
- Respect is important because it encourages communication skills, empathy, and self-respect and helps prevent bullying.
- Tips for teaching respect to kids include modeling respect, setting clear expectations, celebrating diversity, role-playing, noticing respect in action, and engaging in respect-building activities.
Table of Contents
What Is Respect?
Showing respect is about feeling empathy, understanding boundaries, and treating others the way you want to be treated yourself. It’s a skill that has to be learned, so we shouldn’t expect kids to know how to do it automatically.
When exploring the concept of respect with your child, keep it simple. Asking the questions, “What are some nice things people do for you?” and “What would be a kind thing to say to someone?” are good places to start.
Why Is Respect Important?
Respect is the foundation of all positive relationships. When your child has the social skills to demonstrate respect for someone, and when that respect is reciprocated, they begin to understand what healthy interaction looks and feels like.
If you can begin to educate your child about respect early on, they’ll develop the skills they need to make having respect for others a part of their identity.
Self-Respect
Self-respect is the starting point for respecting others. If kids know how they deserve to be treated, feel confident in expressing their opinions and needs, and know when to set boundaries, they’re able to respect the same in someone else.
It takes time to build self-respect, but it begins early. When a child feels safe and loved by those around them for who they are, the seed is planted. And if they are supported as they attempt new things, expand their skill sets, make mistakes, push boundaries, and acquire new skills, that self-respect will continue to grow.
Communication Skills
Respect is in the details, such as actively listening and not interrupting when others are speaking and considering their point of view. It’s also realizing that the tone and words we use when speaking to others also signal respect.
Empathy
Respect and empathy are intertwined. Children know how it makes them feel when they are treated respectfully and can learn to want others to have those positive feelings, too.
Bullying Prevention
Approaching others with kindness allows kids to accept people who look, act, and/or think differently than they do on equal terms. It also acts as a problem-solving tool.
When a child operates from a place of respect, they remove the fuel that can turn conflict into aggression and replace it with compromise and cooperation.
Tips for Teaching Respect
Teaching kids the importance of respect can be tricky because it can seem like an abstract idea. Some kids might feel like they’re being asked to say or do things without understanding why.
If you’re just beginning to introduce your child to the idea of respect, try a few different ways of teaching it. Your child will let you know what works for them.
One thing is for sure: just like most skills we try to teach (and learn ourselves!), the process can take time.
Model Respect
Kids can—and do!—watch the grown-ups in their lives all the time. If you model being respectful, your child will internalize what they see and then try to imitate you.
Set Clear Expectations
While the idea of respect may seem abstract to a child, setting clear expectations can help define it. Be specific about what you expect from your child.
For example, you might tell them that they need to ask for permission when they want to borrow something that belongs to someone else, instead of just taking it.
Celebrate Diversity
Talking about differences in a positive way can help your child meet the world around them without fear. Embracing diversity opens doors to curiosity and kindness. And at the same time, finding similarities can help your child feel connected to others around them.
These feelings—curiosity, kindness, and a sense of connection—lead directly to respect.
Practice Role-Playing
Practicing respectful behavior through pretend play is a fun and safe way to help your kid learn the skill. By acting out scenes that focus on situations like facing conflict, solving problems, and asking for something they want, your child can navigate respect in a supportive environment.
Positively Reinforce Respect in Action
Pay attention to the times when your child acts respectfully, and let them know that you’ve noticed their behavior and appreciate it. Some concrete moments are when your child:
- Uses the words “please” and “thank you”
- Takes turns with someone
- Plays fairly
- Communicates in a back-and-forth “listening and speaking” manner
- Says something kind to someone
Engage in Respect-Building Activities
Finally, almost any game gives your child a chance to explore the idea of respect. Simple actions like turn-taking and being a gracious winner or loser are perfect opportunities for them to put what they’ve learned into action.
Resources for Respect—and More
It takes dedicated time and energy to help kids learn the skills they need to thrive in the world, and Begin is here to support you.
We know the importance of respect and collaboration and include activities that focus on those skills in many of our learning products—from games in the HOMER app that help build confidence and develop self-respect to the social-emotional learning in the Learn with Sesame Street app and kits.
Because play the most effective way for kids to learn!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a song for young children about respect?
One fantastic kids’ song is “Give It, Live It, Respect,” sung by actor and rapper Common, plus a whole bunch of Sesame Street friends!
What are the “Three Rules of Respect”?
The three rules of respect are generally thought to be:
- Respect others
- Respect self
- Respect space
What is an activity schools use to teach about respect?
An activity that’s often used in the classroom to teach respect is the “Four Corners of Respect.” It focuses on self-awareness in social-emotional situations.
Teachers make these four signs and put them in the four corners of a room:
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
They then describe scenarios that center on respect, and ask kids to stand in the corner of the room that corresponds to their opinion about it.
For example, they might come up with action statements, like, “You drop a gum wrapper on the beach and don’t pick it up. This is respectful behavior.” Or, they might come up with personal statements, like, “I feel respected in my classroom.” This activity can lead to great discussions.
