Q: How do we get kids to show respect for their elders, employers, teachers, parents, etc.? Today’s kids, some at very young ages, seem to feel entitled to talk back, argue, use vulgarity and not listen to authority. When I was young, it didn’t matter who the adult was; you didn’t talk back, let alone argue about who’s in charge!
A: This is a loaded question if ever there was one. When it comes to American parenting, this issue is sticky, because we have so many different types of families, cultures, faiths and traditions, which means there is no one way to “respect your elders.”
Think about different cultures (Asian, Black, Latino and Hispanic, Italian and more), and you will probably notice a tradition of taking care of older family members, especially by the women in the family. Generally speaking, families have long been patriarchal and have had deep respect for their elders.
But that is changing.
As you are noticing, children now “seem to feel entitled to talk back, argue” and “not listen to authority,” and I’m glad you used the word authority. There are generally considered to be four types of parenting:[…]
View this full article on The Washington Post
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