RespectTreating everyone with care

You need: A soft toy

1. Sit with your toddler and a soft toy.
2. Stroke the toy slowly with your hand. Say “gentle.”
3. Help your toddler stroke it too, with your hand over theirs.
4. Give the toy a cuddle and say thank you to the toy together.

“Gentle hands. Soft and slow.”

You need: Nothing

1. Practise waving with a big smile. Say “hello” as you wave.
2. Wave goodbye to a toy, a cup or the door. Say “bye bye.”
3. Next time you meet someone, let your child wave if they want to. Never push.
4. Cheer quietly: “You said hello.”

“We say hello when we see someone. We say bye bye when we go.”

You need: A large soft ball or a cushion, and stay close

1. Sit facing your toddler on the floor.
2. Roll the ball and say “my turn.” Wait for it to come back.
3. Say “your turn” as they roll it to you.
4. Keep it short and finish before they get tired.

“My turn. Your turn. We are sharing.”

You need: Nothing, just two toys or puppets

1. Let one puppet say something unkind, such as “Go away!” in a puppet voice.
2. Ask your child, “How does the other puppet feel?”
3. Let the puppet try again with a kind way: “Please can I have some space?”
4. Ask your child to choose the kind words for next time.

“Both of these say no. Which one feels kinder?”

You need: A few books, toys or cushions from the room

1. Tell your child you are going to look after the things in the room.
2. Show them how: turn pages gently, put toys back in a basket, wipe a table.
3. Let them choose one job and do it with you.
4. Say thank you and look at the tidy space together.

“We look after our things so we can enjoy them.”

You need: Space to move

1. Play a gentle tickle or chase game with your child.
2. Pause and say, “If you want me to stop, say stop.” Practise saying it.
3. Play again. When they say stop, stop at once, even if they are laughing.
4. Say, “You said stop and I listened.”

“When you say stop, I stop. When I say stop, you stop.”

You need: A pencil or spoon

1. Sit in a circle or around a table.
2. Pass the pencil. Only the person holding it talks; everyone else listens.
3. Each person shares one thing they liked today. They may pass.
4. Afterwards ask, “What was it like to be listened to?”

“When you hold the stick, I listen with my whole body.”

You need: Paper and pencils

1. Draw your family, home or favourite place, however it is.
2. Look at someone else’s drawing and say one thing you notice and like.
3. Ask a respectful question: “What is this?” or “Tell me about this.”
4. Talk about how families and homes can be different and each still feels like home.

“I notice that your picture is different from mine. I would like to know more.”

You need: Nothing

1. Make up a small scene: a friend asks to borrow your pencil case and you would rather not lend it.
2. Practise a kind no: “No, thank you. I would rather keep it today.”
3. Practise hearing a no too: “Okay. Thanks for telling me.”
4. Swap roles and talk about how each one felt.

“No can be kind. Try: “No, thank you. Maybe another time.””

You need: Paper and pens

1. Write three imaginary comments friends might make to each other.
2. For each one, ask: Would the other person laugh? Could it hurt? How do we know?
3. Rewrite one so it keeps the humour but is kind.
4. Agree on one question to ask yourself before you joke: “Will we both be laughing?”

“How would this feel to hear? Are we both laughing?”

You need: Paper and pens

1. Draw three circles inside each other. Label the middle one “me”.
2. Write who goes in each circle: who can hug me, who can borrow my things, who knows my secrets.
3. Talk about how it is okay for circles to be different for different people.
4. Write one kind way to say, “That is not okay with me.”

“My boundary is my choice. Yours is your choice too.”

You need: Paper and pens

1. Choose one place: a classroom, a bus, a lunch queue or a family kitchen.
2. List five small signs of respect there, such as holding a door, waiting your turn or tidying up.
3. List one thing that could be better, and one thing you could do about it.
4. Try your idea for one week and report back.

“What does respect look like here? What could we try?”

You need: Pairs, paper

1. Pick a harmless topic you can honestly disagree on, such as the best way to spend a weekend.
2. Each person speaks for one minute while the other listens without interrupting.
3. Each repeats the other’s main point before replying.
4. Talk about what made it feel respectful, and what made it hard.

“Let me check I have understood you. You said…”

You need: Paper or a notes app

1. Write three rules for how you want to be treated online, and three for how you will treat others.
2. Choose one situation, such as a photo being shared or a group chat turning nasty.
3. Plan one kind and safe response, including who you would tell.
4. Agree to review the rules in a month.

“Would I say this if they were in front of me?”

You need: Pairs

1. Write a real or imagined situation where you need to say no, to a friend, a team, a family request or a group plan.
2. Practise three versions: too soft, too harsh and respectful and clear.
3. Choose words that are honest, short and kind.
4. Say them out loud to a partner and swap feedback.

“No, I am not comfortable with that. Thanks for understanding.”