Respecting hinges on self-esteeme. Children go through processes of development as they understand more complicated ideas. It's like flying. You want your child to fly, yet, you don't want them to fall and get hurt. IF you don't let them experience life, they lose confidence. Certain things they should never get into; drugs, alcohol and stuff... but attention is everything. You can't spoil a child with attention. It is the lack of attention that hurts. IF you make up for it with objects that define expression (presents,) they define there confidence on that. When they grow up and find life isn't a sliver platter for them, it gets hard. Also, creating high expectations doesn't help for many times we define those expectations and we want them to be just like ourselves. Always taking the child SERIOUSLY, listening to them and telling them if they can think it, they can do it, then they'll try. But, you also have to let them know it takes practice and you will be there when the fail, to just help them get up again. If you believe your child can do what they put there mind to, they can have the confidence to make it happen. Yet, if they find it is to hard, then there are also other goals they can work on and achieve. The wrong way is getting mad when they fail, telling them that they are a lost cause. (my mother kept doing that over the pettiest of stuff... so, I developed low self-esteem and a vulnerability complex. When you allow yourself to listen to them, even when your having a hard time, being a friend as much as a parent, There are many things other than this to take into consideration, but the first step is to let them know without a doubt, they are important and part of the family... not hinderance in anyway, then you can go from there.
A harmonious family is the #1 defense against the many influences a child may pick up bad behavior from. Stay in tune with your child's needs and insecurities. Kids often turn to bad influences to seek the approval they do not receive at home.
