Role Play

• In a classroom situation, the teacher should first talk to children about what consideration is and then have them talk about incidences of consideration they’ve seen in their classroom. For the rest of the day, the teacher can watch for acts of consideration in the classroom and reward them with a sticker, ticket or whatever reward system is in place. Teachers can extend the lesson by having children practice considerate acts when they go home and then come back to the classroom the next day and share what they did and how they thought their act of consideration made the other person feel.
  
  

Understanding Motivation

• Inconsiderate behavior often occurs when children do not have the motivation to be considerate. Understanding respect and compassion can alter a child’s behavior and cause him to change the way he treats others. In a classroom situation or in one-on-one relationships, such as with a mother and daughter, you can discuss books or events that illustrate events that cause compassion: a boy loses a dog or and old man is left alone, for example. Ask the child what feelings she would have if the same thing happened and what action she might take to ease the pain the person may be suffering.
  
  

Lead by Example

• For a child to learn consideration, he must see examples of it in his daily life. As a role model for children, examine your own life and ask how often you take part in considerate acts. Also examine moments that your actions were less than considerate. Children spot hypocrisy quicker than many adults. If your desire is to increase the considerate behavior of a child in your care, be honest with yourself about what example you or those around you have provided.
  
  

Charitable Works

• Include a child in considerate acts as often as possible to reinforce the idea. Take the child along when you visit an elderly person, feed the hungry or take part in whatever your regular charitable effort is. If your activity is not suitable for a child, you can sign on for one that is. For example, cleaning an environmentally sensitive park with a group is a good way for the child to see that there are many considerate people in the world, and that being considerate in this manner can make people happier. Always communicate with the child how the activity displays consideration so that he may recognize similar considerate actions in the future.