How can you explain respect and equality to children around grade 2-4?

Question

I need to say what it is, what it looks like, and why it's important.

Also, a lesson plan to help them understand. Can you recommend any books to read, plays to do, etc?

Answer 1

all you need to do is check your own behavior. Children are sponges. They soak up the local colour. You and all that work at your school/institution are that colour. All you staff members need do is treat each other like the human beings you are...leave the body of your isms (racism/sexism etc.) at the door...and treat those children as if your very soul was at stake...for it is....and they will do the rest.
99% of what children learn from the adults who care for them is non-verbal....all that stuff that has nothing to do with 'teaching them', they are paying attention to.
You don't explain respect and equality to children. You are respectful and treat each person like the divine child of god they are. That way when the children ask you questions about
equality and respect...you will know they are only asking for confirmation...for what they see in your own behavior and don't not to be taught something they already know....and only need help exercising.
Want to explain respect and equality to children? Listen to them...really listen...and you will always be shocked at just how little they need be force fed concepts we adults have no idea how to work through amongst ourselves. Listening is an act of love. It is giving them the gift of time. The present is a gift we give ourselves. And with charity beginning at home...it is easy to spread it amongst those we care for. Not by rhetoric...but by example.
Your kids spend the best time of their days...with you. Think about the position of power and influence you occupy.
The Iroquois of North America...when asked a question by their children...would think, think, and think again...before considering a response. They knew that the quality of their response travelled seven generations. Seven.
To me it is obvious that past ways 'teaching' our children do not work. I need only look around at the societies we live in today...and our unwillingness or inability to communicate with one another....and the death and destruction that can only follow...and has. Something different must be tried. And I suspect that if the way children have been taught in the past was sufficient...you would not be on Yahoo answers asking your question.
I beseech you...think about what has been said here. Extract what you need...and toss the rest. It sounds as if you are one of a rare few who would defy the past...and help usher in a new age of enlightenment for the children that would be our future. And i firmly believe that I am speaking to someone who would be an enlightened witness for those children in her care.
There is an author who I would like to introduce you to. Her work saved me from a life of despair. And the soft and simple language of her journey helped me work up the nerve to get help for my shortcomings. It is a work that has everything to do with children and the future we owe them. Her name is Alice Miller and the links lie below. Good luck with you and your children. Peace and blessings.
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Support

Children need a great deal of both emotional and physical support from the adult. According to Alice Miller, this adult support must include the following elements in order for a child to develop to his or her full potential:


"1. Respect for the child
2. Respect for his rights
3. Tolerance for his feelings
4. Willingness to learn from his behavior:
a. About the nature of the individual child
b. About the child in the parent themselves
c. About the nature of emotional life, which can be
observed much more clearly in the child than in the
adult because the child can experience his feelings much
more intensely and, optimally, more undisguised than
an adult."

Quoted from: Miller, Alice. "For your own good : hidden cruelty in child-rearing and the roots of violence," New York : Farrar, Straus, Giroux, © 1983, page 100.

Answer 2

If you are wanting to explain things to kids, you almost have to get to their level. Kids are simple, they don't have much life experience to know grey-areas. Most often, if you find a simple everyday example by which they can at least get a general idea of the building blocks of respect and equality, it will build into bigger concepts and practices. Such as the concept of *sharing a snack*, or *not throwing, kicking, hitting, punching others*-that kindergarten rule of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Kids most often follow examples that are around them. Being a positive role-model and setting a good example is a great start. Also, if they do do something wrong, make sure they know and understand what and why it is wrong, so it lessens the chance they'll repeat the negative behavior.

Answer 3

Well, respect is giving everyone a chance to speak their opinion (what game would you like to play), listen to their reasons & discuss the pros & cons without putting someone down. Equality can be the same as treating others fairly, such as same reward, or punishment, for their actions. At this age they can even begin to understand abstract concepts, such as equality due to skin color, beliefs, gender, etc. Try something along the lines of why should one friend get a bigger slice of cake because he's a boy & another friend get less because she's a girl. Kids at this age have a strong sense of fairness & that's what these concepts boil down to.

Answer 4

CONCRETELY -- these are critters of the concrete, not strong with abstractions.

Lots of examples of the kinds on things you mean -- beginning with your having them imagine THEY are the one treated unfairly or disrespectfully.

When you get agreement and understanding of those cases, you can broaden the concepts.

Better still, ask them, and have them talk about what they already understand, and give examples.

Yes. Make it a discussion, where you use a simpler word than 'equality' -- have them explain it to you and each other.

Then, if they've gotten something wrong, use examples to point them right.

Also, if you know what entertainment they're familiar with -- TV or movies, watch them. If you're familiar with the characters, and can cite examples, that will help.

Answer 5

Respect is caring for yourself and all others. It looks like a big red heart smiling. It is important because without respect, it's more difficult to feel love for yourself and difficult to be able to express that love to others.

Equality means that everbody is equal. It looks like a rainbow - each colour in that rainbow is equally important or the rainbow wouldn't work like it's supposed to. Just like people. People are all different colours but each one is equally important or the world just won't work as it is intended. It's important because if we don't treat everyone equally, no matter what their size, colour and shape the earth won't be happy and will it get sick.

Answer 6

It's pretty easy if you believe in God. I just had this discussion with another round of grandchildren recently and told them people are like pretty flowers and that God made us all. If Granny only had white flowers in her garden it wouldn't be nearly as pretty as it is with all my flowers. We need lots of kinds and colors of people to make our world beautiful and that's why God made us this way. We are all special and important. So far so good. I'm sure the world will try to mess their pure little minds up but not if I can help it. Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 7

know only- Loving somebody sufficient to no longer harm them or be impolite to them in any way . Equality only- Treating definitely everyone the type you opt to be taken care of. My lady pal works at a daycare, i wish this enables.

Answer 8

Start with the Golden Rule: Do to others what you would have them do to you. Make sure they know that means ALL others.