Visual lesson to start teaching respect. Lesson 1

Toothpaste to Teach Respect
Before we discuss family rules I tell the kids we are going to play a game. Each group has a travel size tube of toothpaste. First I tell them to squeeze all the toothpaste onto a paper plate. Then I tell them the game is to try to get all of the toothpaste back into the tube without using any tools expect a toothpick (including not using their hands!). Well, it doesn't work. I then tell them that the toothpaste is like words we speak. Once we say an unkind word we can't put it back in our mouth. Then we talk about repecting one another and our family rules, school rules, town rules- etc.

First, Lets define Respect

Respect
When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.
- Arapaho Proverb
To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge. Erich Fromm

What Respect Is
Respect means a lot of different things. On a practical level it seems to include taking someone's feelings, needs, thoughts, ideas, wishes and preferences into consideration. We might also say it means taking all of these seriously and giving them worth and value. In fact, giving someone respect seems similar to valuing them and their thoughts, feelings, etc. It also seems to include acknowledging them, listening to them, being truthful with them, and accepting their individuality and idiosyncrasies.
Respect can be shown through behavior and it can also be felt. We can act in ways which are considered respectful, yet we can also feel respect for someone and feel respected by someone. Because it is possible to act in ways that do not reflect how we really feel, the feeling of respect is more important than the behavior without the feeling. When the feeling is there, the behavior will naturally follow.