What strategies can you use to show children to show them that you respect their individuality?

Answer:

- Reward creativity, encourage individual time with people (not just group), defend them when they are persecuted for being different.

- Show them YOUR individuality.

- Allow them to do things outside the "norm" e.g. be in plays, play a musical instrument, take dance lessons, question everything!

- Teach them respect for others individuality.

- Teach them how can be "one of the crowd" while still being themselves.

- Encourage things like having a bowl of ice cream for breakfast once in a while, or pancakes for dinner, go to a movie during the day, volunteer their time, help the downtrodden, anything the 'average' person doesn't do, but would be a good thing to do.

- Tell them the things you admire about them.

- No matter what tell them that their opinion counts (and let it), allow them to have their feelings - all feelings are valid but that doesn't mean they are correct or right about whatever subject they touch on.