Macaroni And Please: Lesson Two

I Can't Get Any Respect

By Lewena Bayer and Karen Mallett

By the time children are in kindergarten, respect; is a well-worn word. Many children say it, but don't really understand what it means. Most parents/teachers expect respect, but are not always clear about explaining how (using specific behaviours) a child can exhibit respect.

Objectives:

• Explain what respect means.
• Illustrate (by example) specific ways a child can show respect.
• Explain that how we feel on the inside will show on the outside and respect is “actions speaking louder than words”.

The Etiquette Ladies define respect as "showing care and consideration for people and things". Being respectful is a way of doing things that shows care and consideration for yourself and other people. Using good manners shows that you have respect.

Ask your children to tell you a way they can show care and consideration for others? (Typical responses are; be nice to them, share my toys, hug them, etc) YOU can expand the discussion by asking questions to get the children to think more about their responses. "That's right, and you could also... (Consider questions such as, "How do you show consideration for your mother? or "What about your teacher?" And, "how do you be kind to yourself? The objective is to draw out responses such as:

• clean up after myself
• listen
• help others
• don't push
• keep neat and clean

Practice Exercises/Activities:

Consider using Bristol board and having the children work together to find and cut pictures of respectful behaviours out of magazines. Have a group discussion to choose respectful behaviours for each letter, for example:

R Remember to brush your teeth
E Eat what is served without complaining
S Speak with inside voices in the house
P Put your toys away
E Everyone gets a smile
C Clean up
T Take care of your things

There are all kinds of children's books and videos that teach respect, consider a visit to the library to explore the topic further.. You could also choose a song like Aretha Franklins "A Little Respect" and let children dance and sing.

Copyright In Good Company, The CG Inc.