5 Empowering Rights Your Kids Need to Know

Rights and privileges often get confused. Our kiddos sometimes think owning a cell phone is a right and driving is a right. These are privileges.

But…here are 5 basic human rights your kids can (and ought to) embrace. These spill over into all relationships. Practice these in the home. If your children know these rights and rehearse them in the family, they will be more able to apply these concepts to other significant relationships and situations.

5 Empowering Rights Your Kids Need to Know.

1. The right to be treated with respect.

Teach your child to ask, “Am I being treated with respect?”

Train your child to say, “I treat you with respect, I expect respect in return.”

Show your child because he (and his fellow humans) are created in God’s image, all people are worthy of respect.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

2. The right to respectfully express feelings, opinions, and expectations.

Teach your child to say, “I feel….” “I think…” “I’d like…”

Train your child to avoid blaming, shaming, or using personal attacks: “You make

me feel…” , “Your opinion is dumb…” “You should have…”

Show your child it is okay to change one’s mind. It takes maturity to reconsider

and readjust when assumptions have been made or opinions have been formed

without all the facts.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15

3. The right to agreeably disagree and discuss differences.

Teach your child to listen and consider another’s point of view.

Train your child how to back up his opinions and beliefs with facts rather than

just emotion.

Show your child how to respectfully disengage when discussions get heated.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Proverbs 18:2

4. The right to discuss whether expectations and demands from another are reasonable.

Teach your child to ask, “Is this expectation reasonable?”

Train your child to inquire, “Do I have a say in this?”

Show your child healthy relationships are reciprocal, not one sided.

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men
Proverbs 2:12

5. The right to wait and ponder before giving an answer.

Teach your child to wait in order to think things through before deciding.

Train your child to say, ‘I will think about this and get back to you later.”

Show your child how to evaluate the pros and cons when making a decision.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

Proverbs 1:5

By understanding these rights, our children are less likely to be:

vulnerable to peer pressure
a victim of bullying
a people-pleaser
influenced by a sales pitch
in a controlling or an abusive relationship

Let’s equip our children to recognize manipulation and persuasion. Let’s empower our kids by teaching them these 5 fundamental rights. Let’s encourage our kids by putting these five principles into practice in our family.

By,

Lori Wildenberg
Lori is currently scheduling for the 2016-17 school year. Please contact her to schedule her for your upcoming retreat or special event. Lori is also available to lead parenting seminars, workshops or to provide parent consulting or coaching. Click here to contact Lori.

Friends,
Over at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting we now have a store! It’s just like going into your local Christian bookstore except you don’t have to leave your home. Not only can you find the books: Raising Little Kids with Big Love and Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love (also at Amazon) but you can shop for faith wear t-shirts, jewelry, and other gift items. The proceeds we receive go toward the 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting ministry. Thanks for your support! Click here to head over to the store.