How To Teach Your Child Manners
June 11, 2008
When children are polite, kind, and honest, they develop character and make their parents proud. Mannered children grow into mannered adults and it is never too early or too late to teach your child about manners.
Reiterate the message that manners matter. Young children learn best by learn best by repetition and reinforcement. If your child misses the opportunity to be mannerly, have the child try it again the right way. Start introducing manners lessons slowly to very young children and add more refined lessons as the child matures.
Consistency and repetition are very important when teaching children. In order to know how to teach your child manners, recognize your child’s polite moments - Praise her for her good manners. My daughter’s favorite thing to do while we are at the post office is to open the door for others. She is amazed and disappointed at how few adults thank her. When a child, any child, is polite to you, remember to acknowledge them. By doing so, you’re reinforcing polite behavior.
Parents will have to reinforce the rules time and time again until good practices become habit. Remind children whenever a slip in manners occurs but don’t scold or nag. A developmentally appropriate minimum standard of behavior for a variety of situations should be set by the parent and reviewed with the child often. In this manner the child will learn what is appropriate for a given situation and when the application of such standards is applicable. Tell your child what behavior you expect from him or her in a given circumstance.
Another imp thing in order to learn how to teach your child manners, the parents should review the other basics of etiquette with your child whenever necessary. He should learn how to shake hands, show respect for older people, behave quietly in public places, and avoid interrupting other people in conversation. He should also learn not to play with other people’s belongings unless given permission to do so. Using proper words - Start using words and phrases like ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘excuse me,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ and ‘may I?’ as early as possible around your child. Encourage your child to do the same.
If you want your child to grow up and get into the best schools, and get a good job you can not expect them to do this without having good manners. Remember training your child must begin from infancy. You can not let your child be rude when they are little and expect them to all of a sudden learn when they are older. What about when they start dating or when they begin making friends, this will defiantly have an impact on how other people react to them.
























