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4-H Character Connections

Respect Character Connection

Aretha Franklin’s song “R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” made the word famous, but do we know what it really means? Ethical people are respectful of others, and demonstrate it by recognizing and honoring everyone’s right to be themselves, to make decisions, and to have privacy and dignity.

Respect means:

• Following the Golden Rule
• Using good manners, not bad language
• Practicing tolerance
• Being considerate of the feelings of others
• Not threatening, hitting or hurting anyone
• Dealing peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
The foundation of respect begins in infancy. The best way for you to begin teaching your child respect is by modeling the behavior. How you show respect to other family members and friends will influence the ways your child is respectful of others. Even in infancy, your child will benefit from experiencing kind words and actions.

Keep in mind that toddlers may find that the easiest way to solve problems is with a hit or grab because they are not skilled at using language. Continue to let your toddler know what behavior you want to see.

As your toddler grows to be a preschooler, you will want to have her show respect by using good manners. Praise and encourage your child when she says please or thank you at the appropriate time.

Let’s Pretend to Take Turns Activity
Taking turns in not a natural action, it must be taught. Help your child learn to take turns by having everyone in the family take turns playing with a favorite toy or doing a favorite chore. Talk about how important it is for everyone to get a turn.

School-Age, Middle School and Teens
Respect is an essential foundation for good relationships. Being respectful means respecting others’ differences. This should begin at an early age by learning about the differences of children at CYS and learning how they are unique and special. You should encourage the same respect as they grow older. Children and teens who know how they are unique and special will be better prepared to handle an encounter with someone who is not respectful of individual differences.

Praise her when she handles difficult people or circumstances respectfully. Likewise, immediately explain why other behaviors are disrespectful.

As always, modeling respectful behavior and treating your children with respect are important.

Respect in Movies Activity
Watch a current movie with your teen. Agree before the movie starts that everyone will watch the movie particularly watching for both respectful and disrespectful behavior. When the movie is over, compare your results. Do you agree with your teen’s assessments? If not, take time to discuss your differences considering everyone’s point of view.

Adapted from materials written for US Army Child and Youth Services and USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

CHARACTER COUNTS® and the Six Pillars of Character are service marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS!® Coalition, a project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics.