You have probably talked many times with your child about how to treat others. But have you had a good discussion about why? Middle school students are ready for a higher level of thinking. So it is important that they know the reasons behind the action.
Here are the reasons for being respectful:

* Respectful behavior is moral and ethical. It's the difference between right and wrong.
* Respectful behavior is fair. Rude and disruptive behavior is not fair. The person it is directed at does not deserve it. No one does. It is also not fair to the people around who are trying to teach and learn.
* Respectful behavior is rewarded. Your child will benefit from a reputation as a respectful, kind and polite person. Respectful people are often chosen as leaders. They receive greater responsibilities and freedoms. Why? Because it is already clear that they know how to treat others. They are the kind of people others look up to.

Reprinted with permission from the March 2010 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Linda Sonna, The Everything Parenting a Teenager Book, ISBN: 1-59337-035-0 (Adams Media, an F+W Publication Company, www.adamsmedia.com).