West Ridge Academy Recommends Three Ways Parents Can Earn The Respect Of Their Children
May 19th, 2012West Ridge Academy has noticed that large numbers of parents are inclined to expect respect from their children just because they are responsible for the family. However, they fail to understand that, just as it is with other kinds of human relationships, their children’s respect is much better earned than demanded. When respect is earned, it lasts longer, whereas when it is demanded, it usually doesn’t last as long, particularly in cases where the parents only brought about respect through fear of parental wrath.
Considering all these things. West Ridge Academy would like to share this advice with parents who want to earn their children’s trust and respect.
Our first piece of advice is to be a firm, but fair disciplinarian. This is a subjective area of parenting that parents must monitor closely, because doing discipline right is largely dependent on the issues the family faces, the environment they live in, and the children’s and parents’ personalities. If you administer discipline to children in a heavy-handed, authoritarian manner, you may be approaching abuse, especially if you discipline them physically. If you’re excessively lenient about discipline, though, you might end up with children who are detached, irresponsible, and disrespectful throughout their lives.
Effective communication plays a central role in effective discipline, which involves constant trial and error as discipline procedures are adjusted to suit the parents and children involved. You must be sure that your children know and understand the limitations you set for them, and that they know how they will be rewarded if they remain within them and punished if they step outside of them. Discuss these things with your children, and don’t be afraid to put the punishments you decided upon into practice, as long as they don’t involve physical or any other kind of abuse. Sometimes, even the loss of a small thing that a child values will bring them understanding and prevent them from wanting to continue their misbehavior.
Next, demonstrate good behavior to your children by acting the way you want them to act. West Ridge Academy can tell you that parents sometimes don’t realize just how closely their children are observing them until they notice the children doing exactly the opposite of what they have been told to do, because they’ve seen their parents doing it. Children are more perceptive than that – they understand that the actions they see mean more than the words they hear. Children who notice a marked contrast between the two may end up confused, and may no longer respect or trust their parents. If you want your children to do the right thing, show them how by doing it yourself, rather than just telling them to do it. If you do, they will respect you for demonstrating honor and dignity. If you can show your children how much you respect them by always treating them as real human beings first and foremost, then they are sure to respect you just as much, or even more.
Finally, place God at the heart of your family’s life. No matter how hard you try to do right by your children, situations that seem too big for you to handle will always crop up, and sometimes, they may seem so overwhelming that you just want to give up on them. These kinds of situations are the ones you should turn over to God, who is always there to rescue you and ease your burdens. Teaching your children to center their lives on God is the greatest and most important lesson you, as a parent, can give to them. This lesson is powerful enough to illuminate their darkest thoughts, show them the path out of their troubles, encourage them when they face opposition, and strengthen them for any difficulties life may send their way. West Ridge Academy advises all parents that if they develop these values in their children, their children will never lose their respect for their parents, even when they’re all grown up.