Conversation Starters - RESPECT
Below are sample conversation starters on the topic of respect. Please take a moment to read through the questions prior to their use over the course of the month. Don’t forget to have fun with this type of “Table Talk.” This is a time for children to learn how to express themselves. Warning: you might not like all of their answers J, or they might have difficulty at first expressing themselves about specific topics regarding values – please, for now, hold back on “correcting” them. Think of this as an exercise in sharing of ideas, an opportunity for you as parents to model for them. This is a terrific opportunity to see how our children think, feel, what they observe, and how we as the adults in their lives are teaching our children family values.
Suggestion: One meal a week end with question number 10.
Have each person in the family take turns answering the various questions according to their ability.
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What does Respect mean? (This could also be made into a poster to be hung in the home.) Take turns adding to the list.
Sample ideas for defining respect:
Being kind to your friends and family
Using a kind voice and choosing kind words
Using good manners
Not hitting or hurting others
Talking to your Circle of Safe Adults* about your problems
Recognizing and respecting differences in myself and others
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How does Daddy show respect for mommy? How does Mommy show respect for Daddy? (ex. answers: talk to each other with a kind voice, offers to be helpful, listens when the other speaks, helps solve problems, etc)
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How do I show respect for myself? (I take care of myself, take care of my belongings, eat healthy, exercise, I stand up for myself, I get help when I need to, etc)
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How do I (or my family) show respect for education? (We have books in our home, we see mommy reading, parents help us with our homework, etc)
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How do I show respect for my teachers?
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How do I show respect to my friends?
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How do I show respect for kids at school that aren’t my good friends? Do I have to show respect for them?
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What would you feel if you saw someone being disrespectful?
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What could/would you do if you saw someone being disrespectful to a friend? (to a parent? to a teacher?)
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End with this fun and positive activity:
Share a compliment to each person at the table- begin with the sentence:
A special trait I like about my brother is……
Or my brother is special to me because he……
Sister, mother, grandmother, etc
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