Looking for advice on raising my 7 year old to be a gentleman. I want him to know how to treat women with respect, shake a man's hand properly, hold doors open, and stand up for what's right. My old man taught me these things and they matter. What are the fundamentals you're passing down to your boys?
At 7 he's old enough to learn that being a gentleman means being strong AND kind. Those aren't opposites. Teaching him to help when he sees someone needs it, to listen when people talk to him, to keep his word. Real stuff.
Great age to start involving him in real work and real responsibilities. Show him how men take care of what matters to them through actions, not just words.
At 7 you're already ahead of the game. I'd say just let him see you being courteous, help him practice those small things like eye contact and firm handshakes, and catch him doing it right so he knows it matters to you.
Start with modeling it yourself, man. My kids pick up way more from watching how I treat their mom and other people than anything I could lecture them about. The handshake stuff comes naturally once they see respect in action.
Start with teaching him to respect himself first, then respecting others. Little things like shaking hands properly, saying please and thank you, and just treating people how he wants to be treated. The rest builds from there.
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Model it constantly. He's watching how you treat your partner, how you handle conflict, how you talk about women and men in general. That's your real curriculum right there.