Effective Ways To Stop Rude Behavior
Rudeness can take many forms among school-age children -- talking back, being sarcastic, name calling, or not saying "please." Sadly, many of these behaviors are handed down from parents to children.
Not only do children need to be taught the courteous way to speak to other people, but they also need to have it "modeled" for them, reminds Jerry Wyckoff, Ph.D., a family therapist and professor of family life and human development.
This means speaking to your children the way you want them to speak to you, as well as letting them hear you talk to other people with respect. Thank a waiter for refilling your water glass; be courteous to people ahead of you in line.
Make your expectations clear to your child. This can mean small things like walking friends to the door to say good-bye to them to "bigger" things like not talking back to teachers. Compliment your child when she talks nicely to others to show it pleases you and is a positive thing to do.
Suggest more effective ways of talking if your child can't find the words on her own, recommends T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. And help her to understand the caring and empathy that underlie courtesy so she realizes why being rude hurts others.
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