Strategies for Gaining Your Children's Trust and Respect

In order for trust and respect to exist between parents and children, you must foster dialogue, active listening, and unconditional support.
Strategies for Gaining Your Children's Trust and Respect

Last update: 30 January, 2022

From the very beginning, what parents want most is to have a great relationship with their children. Their intention is to provide peace of mind, support each other in adversity, evolve together, and share trust and respect.

Because of this, parents should strive to offer unconditional love. This is because, from the first days, they’re the people who are in charge of protecting the safety and well-being of the beings that have come to brighten their day.

In addition, it’s essential to be clear that when children begin to grow, it’s essential to maintain the same positive attachment. This is the ideal formula to provide them with constant support that which they can always turn to.

This is essential because, in order for parents to have the best relationship possible with their children, they have to foster trust and respect. Otherwise, each party will distance themselves from the other, hide their emotions, and deny themselves the opportunity to have a confidant in their lives.

For that reason, parents should be aware that trust and respect are two values that must be nurtured on a daily basis. Here are some key aspects to being successful in that achievement.

A mother snuggling with her young daughter.

Recommendations for fostering trust and respect

First of all, it’s essential for parents to address their children with serenity and patience, both when they’re right or wrong. Otherwise, their little ones will feel attacked, will get used to seeing them fearfully, and will begin to hold a resentment that destroys respect.

Apart from a healthy dialogue, it’s essential to listen to children attentively. For, only in this way will they be able to interpret that their parents are interested in what happens to them and will be encouraged to reveal all their concerns.

A mother knealing down and laughing with her daughter.

Another fundamental aspect is to know how to correct them with decency and with good words so that children understand that their parents want the best for them and that they’ll always be willing to help them.

At the same time, it’s advisable to avoid severe punishments at all costs and to be concerned about understanding the reasons for your children’s actions.

This way, it’s clear to the child that, despite the mistake they make, their parents will be willing to guide them on the best path and to transmit the most enriching teachings.

It’s also necessary for parents to provide a space for children to participate in some of the decisions in the home. It’s in this way that they feel that their points of view are valued and that they can be expressed without any limitation.

A mother and daughter sitting on the couch having a conversation with trust and respect.

Finally, one should not fall into the error of blindly believing in external versions without first listening to the children’s points of view. This makes children immediately understand that parents do not trust them and, therefore, they lose the reasons to open their hearts with sincerity.

The key is for parents to offer security

If parents become the refuge that children can turn to in any circumstance, they’ll achieve a relationship based on trust and respect. For both parties will clearly understand that their only intention is to act with love to ensure the benefit of the other.

Likewise, they’ll achieve the expected result by encouraging children to unburden themselves whenever they need to. And with that act, children understand that they can trust their parents because they won’t judge them and will take care of their emotional development.

A mother and daughter laughing together on the couch.

Finally, a great resource is also for parents to tell their children about their lives. This way, they’ll show them that trust is mutual and that secrets aren’t part of this magnificent relationship.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Henao López, Gloria Cecilia, García Vesga, María Cristina, Interacción familiar y desarrollo emocional en niños y niñas. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud [Internet]. 2009;7(2):785-802.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.