What Kids Need
Kids Need Respect
(Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:4)
The Situation: Kids ask, "Why should I show respect?" Some children resist showing courtesy or appreciation to others. This behavior is often a response to not feeling respected or valued themselves. Children who receive little esteem rarely respect other people or their property.
The Solution: Respect is a critical ingredient in all human relationships-and a two-way street. God commands parents to treat their children with love and consideration. Similarly, God requires children to honor and respect their parents. Just as parents should insist on receiving respect from their children, they are obligated to model it in return.
What You Can Do: Above all, teach your child to respect and honor God. Reverence for God and His Word directly influences every person's self-concept and the way he or she treats others. Explain the "spiral principle"--the more respect your child shows to others, the more respect he or she will receive from others (Galatians 6:7-10). Live in such a way that you merit respect. Your child will treat you and other adults accordingly.
