How to Teach Teenagers How to Respect Others

Stay involved in your teenager's life as much as possible.

Your teenager is going through hormonal and physical changes and becoming more independent. You may not like her behavior all the time, but you must stay on top of it and impart the proper lessons she needs to live in the world. One thing she needs to learn is respect. Of course, this is not something learned overnight. Parents teach respect as early as the toddler years by telling a child to say "Please" and "Thank you." As your child gets older, you continue teaching respect, but you can't stop when your child becomes a teenager. That is when you must work harder than ever to teach her respect.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Talk about respectful behavior with your teenager. For instance, tell him he needs to address adults by "Mr." or "Mrs." Explain that he can't yell at people. Explain the negative affects of disrespectful behavior. For example, tell him how yelling at a person makes her feel bad or hurt. Ask your child how he would feel if someone yelled at him. The point is to talk about the elements of both respectful and disrespectful behavior. Make him a part of the discussion, and encourage him to ask questions.
- 2
  
  Be a model of respectful behavior. In order for your teenager to learn respect, you need to show it. Don't yell at people, including your child. Always be aware of how you treat others so that you are showing proper respectful behavior.
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  Spend time with your teenager. You may be busy and work long hours. Make a little time each day to spend with your child, however, even if it's just watching a TV show. This opens the door to communication. For instance, you can ask a question about someone's behavior on a television show. Point out ways the person showed respect or disrespect.
- 4
  
  Give consequences for disrespectful behavior. Explain why the behavior was inappropriate or disrespectful. Never allow or make excuses for your teen's inappropriate behavior. She will never learn respect if you don't nip her bad behavior in the bud.
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  Teach your teen tolerance for other people. Your child should respect the differences in people. Explain that different cultures have different beliefs than your teen's. Never speak ill of or make fun of a cultural or religious group. Respect and tolerate your child's differences, as well. For instance, he may be interested in activities that you don't like, such as drama or music. Never put him down for being different or unique. Also, teach your teen that people come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone has something to offer the world.