National Respect Day
To be very honest here, I find it strange that society has so many ‘specialty days’, today being one of them. National Respect Day. Don’t get me wrong, there are specialty days like an Anniversary or a Birthday, but, all these fillers in if you will? Shouldn’t every day be a day of respect? Shouldn’t every day be a day filled with Manners? It is National Children’s Manners Month! Our newsletter shared FREE resources to help reinforce and teach manners to your children. Let’s talk about respect though. Like any character value a child should be taught them, they are not born with them! So, how do you teach a child what it means to be respectful?
Here are some tips from Respectful Rabbit:
First and foremost, be a role model. Your child is watching what you do, listening to how you speak and reacting to how you react. Please, keep that in mind.
Talk with your child. What does it mean to be respectful to others. One example is when a person is speaking to you, your eyes are on them and you’re showing them you are listening and value what they have to say.
Talk with your child some more. What does it mean to be respected. You feel a sense of pride if you will when you feel that you are being respected. Respect is earned, when you show respect to another person, most likely they are going to show respect to you. If not, talk about it.
Share stories about a time you felt respected from a friend, co-worker or family member.
Share stories about the people in your community, teachers, cashiers, Community service members, etc. Talk about how you respect them and show respect to them. Your child will follow your lead.
As the first suggestion states, your child is watching you, listening to you and most likely wanting to be just like you.
Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin
About five years ago I had Shelby Hill, the young lady in the photo above reach out to our organization and ask if she could use Respectful Rabbit as her platform. Platform for what? She was running for Miss America! She started out by running for Miss Roy Utah and she won! Naturally we were so very proud of her. She didn’t win the Miss America pageant, but she has now settled down and is raising a beautiful family of her own. It was an honor for her to share our character Respectful Rabbit. She will tell her children about her journey, her accomplishments and I have no doubt will teach them what it means to be respectful and respected. How will you teach your children this valuable character trait? Respectful Rabbit has a number of books available to support you in this endeavor. One of which is a fun paper cut out activity book called, Respect Wears Many Hats” and you can read this short rhyming activity book to discuss the people who live in your community! Available here.
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Who do you want in your village? We hope you invite us into your home and help teach your children or your students the importance of good character. Visit us online to learn more about Characters of Character NFP.