How to Stop Disrespectful Children

It can be quite a shock to a parent to realize that her child is disrespectful. A teacher or other adult may point this out to a parent, or she may see signs of it for herself. Some children present challenging behavior from a young age. Others are perfect angels until puberty or adolescence. A parent may find it difficult to discern truly disrespectful behavior from everyday teenage rebellion. Parents have a dilemma: whether to react strongly or whether to be more tolerant. It will help your child most if you are aware of his behavior and react appropriately.

Instructions

    • 1

      Explore the issue of your child's attitude as honestly as possible, talking to your spouse, other adults in the family and his teachers, if this is appropriate. Sometimes a child's attitude to authority changes because he has, for some reason, lost faith in it. One example of this would be if one of his parents left home. It also seems that boys, in particular, who have a poor relationship with their fathers, often struggle with authority figures. If you suspect an issue like this, seek professional advice.

    • 2

      Lead by example. Do not denigrate others in the child's hearing. Avoid mocking those who are weaker. Openly express your respect and approval of people you know who are deserving of it. Discuss the concept of heroes with your child, giving your views and opinions and listening to his. Help elderly or disabled neighbors and if possible, involve your child in this. Some children have little involvement with elderly people and this can shape their attitudes.

    • 3

      Develop a few rules, discussing them with your child. You could include the time you want him to be home and taking responsibility for cleaning his bedroom. Put the way people treat others at the top of the list, like no one in the household should shout at or mock anyone else. Intervene immediately if your child is hurting or offending others, including his siblings. Challenge him, if he is disrespecting others; give the clear message that you will not accept this. Make clear before the event that if he breaks the rules, consequences follow, including grounding or other loss of privileges.

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