Children have trouble grasping the significance of strong health in their youthful focus on pleasure and immediate gratification. Caregivers can help children foster a respect for their bodies by introducing healthy habits in fun ways, and teaching an understanding of the body’s needs.

Teaching children to have a healthy respect for hazards and safety is an important long-term goal for parents and caregivers.

In French, there is an expression: Respecter les regles. In English, the phrase is usually translated as “Obeying the rules,” but I do like the sense that the French conveys. We don’t want out children to only blindly obey rules because they exist, but we want them to understand and value the reasoning behind those rules. In that way, as they age, they can modify and apply new safety rules that respect their changing abilities.

Compromise is a pretty sophisticated concept that still eludes many adults. However, it is a useful skill both for strengthening relationships and for developing a practical way to show empathy.

It is very common for parents, relatives and other caregivers to have different parenting styles. While this can cause friction and frustration among adults, it can also be an opportunity to find constructive ways to compromise and work as a team. One of the best ways to ensure that a team will work smoothly, is for team mates to treat each other in a respectful manner.