Raising a Gentleman: How to Turn Your Son Into a Man You Can Be Proud Of

This raising a gentleman post was created in partnership with Azuro Republic. I was not financially compensated for this post but did receive a sample for review purposes. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me!

How your son will turn out depends on the way that you raise him as a child. Every step that he makes will determine his direction in the future.

You have to be intentional in determining his path. Through your proactive response to your son, you can make sure that he will grow up to be a true gentleman.

Teaching Your Son to Be a Gentleman

It is not as difficult as it sounds. The tips that we listed below are the simplest steps that you will ever see in a parenting guide. These activities are easy to do, but you should always be consistent enough to observe them whenever necessary.

You cannot tell him one thing and then forget it the next time because you are too tired or too busy to do it. It is always about consistency.

As the motivational speaker Tony Robbins said, “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”

Teach Your Kid to Respect Women and Guide Him

Raising a gentleman means teaching your son to respect women. It is never too early to teach your son to respect people, especially women. Women are special people who should be taken care of and respected always. The only way to do this is to teach by example.

For fathers, it will be quite easy because your son can observe it through the way you treat your wife.

Are you opening doors for her? Giving your wife what she needs? Helping her to her seat? Do you hold her hand when she walks with you in the park? These are simple acts in which your son can pick up on when you do it regularly to your wife.

For the mothers, the way to do this is to teach your child some gentlemanly acts. The good thing here is that he already has a woman to practice on!

Teach him to open the door for you. Ask him to do some household chores for you. Teach him words like “Thank You,” “Your Welcome,” and “Pardon me.”

Raising a Gentleman Means Teaching Your Kid to Respect Other People’s Privacy

A gentleman knows the definition of privacy. You should teach your child about the personal boundaries of individuals.

He should not step into those boundaries unless that person allows him.

The easiest way to do this is through one of the most available devices in the home – your smartphone. Your phone is a personal item that you own. He may play games on it, but he should learn to always ask permission first before getting your phone. Tell him that you send important messages and emails through it. You also use it to talk to important people.

This is the boundary that you set around yourself. This borderline around you is your privacy line. He should learn not to go beyond it unless you allow him to do so.

Instruct Him on Being Friendly and Personable

A gentleman is never scared of dealing with people. He should have a pleasant and welcoming demeanor.

Children are usually very open to people. They can easily talk to others without any hesitation or prejudice. This is why it is quite easy to talk to children because they are naturally fun and curious.

The problem lies with the parents. You will often prohibit your children from approaching people because you are scared that something terrible may happen to them. This is generally fine. But if you always restrict your child from talking to other people, you withhold his natural sense of communication.

To teach him to be friendly, you should let him talk to people of any age- from his schoolmates to his uncles and grandmothers.

To keep a safer environment, you can distance yourself just enough to give him space to talk to them but not too far that you cannot hear what they are talking about.

Cultivate a Sense of Responsibility in Daily Life

Raising a gentleman means teaching your son to be responsible.

If you want your child to be a gentleman, he should learn to take responsibility for daily tasks. You can use a writing board with a list of things to do. Fix the bed, wash the dishes, put clothes in the laundry basket- these are routine yet straightforward activities which he must do to be responsible.

Another way of teaching responsibility to kids is by accepting his mistakes. Every mishap that he does should always be treated carefully.

Talk to him and ensure he understands what he did was wrong. He should learn to take responsibility for his actions, apologize when necessary, and ensure not to repeat it.

Teach Your Kid to Promote Good Listening Skills

A gentleman always listens.

In a test conducted among preschoolers, it is found out that their average attention span is around 5 to 7 minutes. This is why you can only keep a child’s attention for that long before he leaves you to do something else.

This is the general average, but you can always teach your child about respecting the person he is talking to.

First, you should talk to him with your eyes looking intently to him about what he must do to listen attentively. This is another teach-by-example strategy. If he picks up on your way of talking and listening, he should also do it when communicating with others.

Raising a Gentle Means Teaching Your Kid to Care About Their Loved Ones and Families

A gentleman always cares.

Family is one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. And this should be understood by your child.

Go to family gatherings. Visit your mom and dad, even if there are no special occasions. Talk to your brothers and sisters on the phone or in their homes. Respond to emergencies when they need you.

As much as possible, involve your child in these activities. Letting him see how important family is for you will teach him about the importance of family for him, too.

Have Them Dress the Part

Typically, when someone thinks of the word ‘gentleman,’ you picture a handsome man dressed up in a suit. We aren’t suggesting your kid sport a suit 247, but there are a few ways to make their attire more gentlemanly.

First off, make sure all of their clothing fits properly. Oversized clothing doesn’t scream style or class; for the most part, it isn’t a good look for anyone.

The quality of the clothing also makes a difference. While you probably don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on someone who grows quickly, at least pay attention to the garment's care instructions. Wash everything according to their tag, and they will look much better. Faded clothing just looks plain wrong.

Also, pay attention to detail. While most likely, your child won’t be able to add details like a pocket square or tie; accessories can work in their favor.

One of our favorite accessories is a luxury bracelet like those from Azuro Republic.

Azuro is changing what is meant to be a refined man

Azuro Republic is a jewelry brand that embodies everything parents want when it comes to raising a gentleman. This couldn’t be clearer in their statement about what they represent:

PASSION

A man can only truly shine and show his worth when he finds something that he can devote and dedicate his entire body, soul, and spirit to, whether it be a craft, discipline, cause, or an art.

EQUALITY

All men, born equally, are given equal opportunity to demonstrate their value. Instead of shunning your situation, a true man stands for what he believes in and fights for what he wants.

SUCCESS

What is the success? Is it defined by something tangible like money or fame? We believe that success is characterized by your drive and ambition to achieve something meaningful in your life and taking action.

INSPIRATION

A true man not only possesses the necessary discipline and self-control to motivate himself every single day, but also has what it takes to be a leader and a source of inspiration to others.

Raising a Gentleman is an Accomplishment

Raising a gentleman can be one of the most beautiful achievements in a parent’s life. It will take a lot of time, effort, and even money to make sure that you have done everything that you can to make him into one.

It will take a lifetime to continuously help him improve his behavior, his character, and his well-being. And, a whole lot of energy but one thing is for sure, it will all be worth it!

Can you share any tips on how to teach your son to respect women?