Helping Your Child Learn Responsible Behavior - continued

Getting To Know Others

Children need to be shown and taught respect for others. Other people have feelings and hopes, just as we do. We have much to learn from each other from people who live far away and from those who lived long ago.

What to do

1. Set a good example by acting respectfully toward others. Always make clear that prejudice is wrong and that all of us are equals, no matter our color, gender, or background.
2. Show an interest in learning about and from others--from neighbors and relatives, and from books about our own and other civilizations. Tell your child interesting things you have learned.
3. Encourage your child to learn about many different lands and people, to learn more than one language, and to read stories about children from all over the world. Show your child how you try to see things from the point of view of others.
4. Listen attentively when your child wants to tell you about interesting things discovered about history, geography, religions, art, and ways of life.

We can help our children understand that there are often things to learn from those who lived in the past and from those whose lives are different from our own. We can teach our children to behave respectfully toward people and not pre-judge them. Sometimes, however, we must make it clear that some people behave in ways that are harmful, and such behavior should not be tolerated.