Children Should Show Respect, As Should Parents

As a family psychologist, I’ve found a common concern parents have about their children, even more common than the ubiquitous Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is “disrespect.”  From talking back to “having an attitude” to refusing to listen, disrespect is often at the top of the problem list parents bring to my office.  I typically search for ways to move “disrespect” down the list some.

It’s difficult to suggest putting the topic off until later, because respect is important, very important.  But we parents too often fall into demanding respect and forcing children to comply.  With threats, punishment, shaming, bribes, and rewards, we use our power in various forms to get kids to respect authority and the powers that be. Our success has been our downfall. We’ve unwittingly taught kids to respect the power and control of authority, losing sight of the more important goal of respecting relationships and respecting each other as individuals.

We’ve taught kids to value power and control so much that they want it for themselves.  So kids set out to win power and control, contributing to power-struggles with their parents.  This explains a phenomenon I observe in my office, that the more a parent identifies with power and control, the more likely they are locked in protracted conflict with one or more of their children.

As a counselor, respect for power and authority typically is not at the top of my list. We need to demonstrate respect for each other and for relationships, not for power and control.  We need to win children’s respect, not try to demand or force it.  Coercing respect might bring compliance but it doesn’t build true respect for each other.  Respect is won by giving it, and earned via acknowledgment of innate worth and equality. Children are our equals, not in skill or knowledge, but in human dignity.  We should treat them as such.

Gaining children’s respect begins with treating them respectfully and focusing on the relationship.  Here are some suggestions:

  1. Strive for cooperation, not compliance.  Cooperation connotes mutual consideration and the freedom to contribute one’s opinion and influence. Compliance can be mindless submission and always requires less investment from the child.
  2. In general, don’t do for a child what the child can do for him/herself. Undue service is disrespectful.
  3. Be consistent in your expectations.  Being lax one day and firm the next shows disrespect for the relationship in as much as you put your mood and energy level before the parent/child relationship
  4. Separate the deed from the doer, stay problem focused, and work toward agreements via discussion.
  5. ay what you mean. Mean what you say.  Follow through.  Respect kids enough to know they understand the issue.  They don’t need repeated reminders, repeated explanations, or threats.
  6. State the problem as a social problem.  Note how the problem detracts from intimacy and enjoyment of each other, and then ask for help in solving the difficulty.  “When you two fight in the car, I don’t enjoy being with you and I don’t feel like taking you with me next time.  What should we do about this?”
  7. Don’t talk down to children. Get rid of the cartoon voice and show genuine emotion.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 08:00AM.