How to Teach Kids to Stand Up for Themselves
How to Teach Kids to Stand Up for Themselves: She Knows is an online resources which provides us with resources about parenting and relationships. Recently, we were contacted by a contributing writer about our thoughts on helping parents to guide their kids on how to stand up for themselves.
At Manners To Go, we are big believers in teaching children to have opinions, to think for themselves and stand up for their beliefs. As adults, we understand that when we express our opinions or stand up for ourselves, it is all in the delivery. Our children need to be taught this behavior…to respect others in the midst of standing up for their beliefs.
Of course, the family meal is a prime opportunity for these discussions and teachable moments. We always encourage the family meal as a time to teach your child how to hold your fork correctly but also a time to learn conversation skills and your values. The kitchen table is a safe space to practice. Asking questions such as “what do you think” or “why is this important to you” helps them to define their beliefs and options.
Teach Children How to Express Themselves Without Being Rude
Respect: During these teachable moments and conversations on popular topics at hand, have the discussion about delivery…in a respectful manner. Teach them to take a deep breath before responding, make eye contact, respectful body language and most importantly, watch their tone of voice. Teach your child that it’s OK to have an opinion as long as you are delivering your message in a clear, direct way.
As our children live in the ever expanding social media world, now more than ever they need to see you and experience you modeling respect behavior in everyday life.
Step in When Necessary: If you see that your child is becoming angry and your grandmother is becoming uncomfortable, step in and intervene. You can assist them by saying “this is what I think you’re trying to say”. Next, show them how to say it in a tone that shows respect and is polite. Don’t embarrass your child in the situation but you do want to calm them down. If the adults are strangers or acquaintances, you can wait until later to handle it.
When addressing the situation, emphasize that you want them to have an opinion, but how they express their opinion is important.
Apologizing: If your child’s behavior is out of line, meaning if they are yelling and being impolite, then an apology is necessary. When your child is stating an opinion that might differ from those involved in the conversation, then an apology is not always necessary.
How do you teach you children how to stand up for themselves? We would love for you to share your tips.
Here is a link to the article on the She Knows website.
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My name is Lisa Richey, and I am the founder of Manners To Go™ . This brand has given me the honor of teaching manners to thousands of people around the world. The journey has taken me from Portland, Oregon to the Middle East. I believe that manners are not about judgment or rules. Manners are about self-interest. It really is about how using good manners makes you feel on the inside.