WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
A respectful parent recognises they don’t know everything. In fact, parents receive virtually no training for what is the most important job in their life. Respectful parents are open and willing to learn new skills to enable them to be better parents and open to new experiences and learnings from their children.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONS
A respectful parent recognises that emotions matter. They are real, not to be feared, and we should not feel ashamed of our emotions. The respectful parent allows and respects the child 's right to express their emotions.
The respectful parent is skilled at helping their child understand and safely express their emotions. The respectful parent understands, respects, and owns their own
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Children will essentially model themselves on their parents (with influences from school and other important adults). This is the good news and the bad news. If you don’t want your child to inherit your anxiety, don’t try to hide it. Learn to manage and minimise it. If you don’t want your child to grow up with a chocolate habit, then kick your own habit.
Observe who you are and if you don’t like what you see, begin a personal development and training program.
UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN’S CAPABILITIES
Growing up is a process of physical, emotional and social development, and it is unrealistic to expect children to do things they are physically, emotionally or socially unable to do.
For example, learning to control their bowels and use the toilet requires physical development. A child needs to understand first the feeling of a full bowel in order to then recognise that feeling and connect it with knowing it is time to use the toilet. Punishing children for pooing in their pants is simply cruel.
It is unreasonable to expect a 2-year-old to share their toys.
It is unreasonable to expect a 3-year-old to remember how to cross a road