Teach Your Child Good Manners

Children go to school to learn how to read and write and they go to church to learn about religion. Learning manners should be taught in the home, and it is one of the easiest things to teach, even at a very early age, but it is not always done.

Steps

  1. Teach your child to wait their turn to speak and not to interrupt when you are speaking. Make sure that when you are done, that you give the child your full attention. Children learn by seeing so show them to respect others by respecting them.
  2. Set the table for a family dinner, using good dishes and silverware. Place the forks on one side of the plate, and the spoons and knives on the other. Add a napkin and a glass, and place them in their proper position. Use the proper utensils as needed, as well as the napkin. They will follow your lead and will make you proud when you take them out to eat at a fancy restaurant.
  3. Tell them the most important table manners a lot of times: Napkin on the lap (under 10 they should tuck it in, under 14 they MAY tuck it in), elbows off the table, don`t eat with your mouth opened,...
  4. Teach a child to say thank you by having them hear you say it. No matter how young they are, never forget to say thank you to them each time they hand you something, even if it is their bottle.
  5. Always say please each time you ask your child to do something. Children learn by what they see and hear by their parents. A hug and kiss by you, will make sure that they always remember to say that word. .
  6. Teach them not to touch things that are on tables, either in your home or when visiting. Explain that they can look, but not touch!
  7. Teach your child to take compliments courteously by saying thank you at appropriate times. Children copy what they see and hear so make it a point to always use those words often.
  8. Teach a little older child to hold a door open for others, especially when entering a store. Show by how you hold the door open for others, allowing them to walk in first-instead of having the door slam in someone's face- and they will learn to do the same.
  9. Make Sunday a family day special by wearing special clothes. Boys should wear a tucked shirt, maybe a tie and a blazer, dress pants and leather shoes. If you go to Church together, then make sure you say good morning to each person you see, and watch and notice your children do the same. If an older person is standing, while you are sitting, stand up and offer them a seat. Your children will notice, and learn, and follow your example.
  10. Teach your child to be polite and that it is not proper to point or to stare at others who might be of a different religion or color. Point out how it can be interesting to see how different families do different things such as rituals or traditions.
  11. Stay calm. Each time you start yelling or losing your temper, you may lose a little of your child's respect.
  12. Be aware. There is a great difference between childish provocation and childish behavior such as forgetting to feed the dog and so forth. Some errors are child appropriate and come with the perils of growing up, while others are simply a test of what the parent may or may not allow.
  13. Show love. Explain why the behavior is punishable and how the child may avoid this in the future. Hug and comfort them after the incident has passed as this will foster love and trust.

Tips

  • Lead by example. Make sure that what you teach them to do, you do yourself.
  • Try not to be too strict or demanding.
  • Always try to be positive rather than negative when instructing you child. Instead of asking them to don't do something, ask them to do the opposite. For example, instead of telling your child never to be rude, tell them always to be polite.
  • Don't ever do name-calling. Name-calling hurts in more ways then you could imagine. Instead of labels, ask your child to explain what the behavior is that bothers them.
  • Teach them to properly greet a guest to your house, by setting an example. What they hear, they will also do.
  • Show your child the exiting/entering etiquette. If your child is waiting for an elevator, or a building explain that they are to wait until all the people exit before entering.

Warnings

  • Children, particularly young ones, may take some time to catch on. If so, try to be patient.
  • Some people are naturally not well mannered, but try to do your best to let your child master the basics. The chances are that if the child learns what is polite and well mannered at a young age, it will stick with them forever.

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