February's character trait is Respect.
Respect can be described as a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. The articleRaising Caring, Respectful, Ethical Children generates several ideas to help cultivate respect in children. Here are some ideas from the article:
1.
Work to develop caring, loving relationships with your kids
Why?
Children learn caring and respect when they are treated that way. When our children feel loved, they also become attached to us. That attachment makes them more receptive to our values and teaching.
How?
Loving our children takes many forms, such as tending to their physical and emotional needs, providing a stable and secure family environment, showing affection, respecting their individual personalities, taking a genuine interest in their lives, talking about things that matter, and affirming their efforts and achievements.
Try this
1. Regular time together. Plan regular, emotionally intimate time with your children. Some parents and caretakers do this through nightly bedtime reading or other shared activity. Some build one-on-one time with their children into their weekly schedules rather than leaving it to chance. You might, for example, spend one Saturday afternoon a month with each of your children doing something you both enjoy.
2. Meaningful conversation. Whenever you have time with your child, take turns asking each other questions that bring out your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Ask questions such as: * "What was the best part of your day? The hardest part?" Raising Caring, Respectful, Ethical Children 2 * "What did you accomplish today that you feel good about?" * "What's something nice someone did for you today? What's something nice you did?" * "What's something you learned today-in school or outside of school?"
Investing the time to cultivate respect in our children takes time but it is truly worth it.
