Teaching good manners for kids isn't impossible. Raising well-mannered kids means encouraging them each day. It's a constant process that requires discipline and loads of patience.
Even with the pandemic causing us to stay indoors most of the time, we can still help our children to develop their social skills starting from home. Nurturing good manners at a young age is especially important as it can make your kiddo grow up to be a respectful person even within the new normal.
We previously explored things to avoid if you want to raise well-mannered kids, but now let's take a closer look at specific manners your kids must learn from age two until they reach the age of nine!
1. Saying 'Please' And 'Thank you'
As soon as they master the art of conversation, they must also learn the value of being polite. Saying "please" when making a request and saying "thank you" is an important good habit to encourage as early as possible.
This can help in having your child learn how to be humble and grateful when someone offers them a hand. It can also encourage them to respectfully support those in need back when asked for a favour.
2. Not Interrupting A Conversation
Once kids learn to communicate, parents must guide them to wait until they can speak up, unless it's very important. With how much time you spend together due to the pandemic having us stay at home as much as possible, take the time to talk to your child to get them used to social interactions and develop proper communication skills.
3. Saying 'Excuse Me'
To enter a conversation, they should learn to politely say "excuse me." This rule of etiquette also applies if they want to request to pass or if after they burp or cough.
The habit of saying "excuse me" can be especially helpful to catch on to once they get older whether during job interviews or at an important dinner.
4. Not Commenting On Someone's Physical Appearance
Though the bluntness of kids can be endearing, it can often offend others. They must learn that it's not okay to call someone fat, for instance, even if it's behind their back.
With how easy it is to just leave a few words under a post online, let us teach our kids to remain respectful to others and to think before they comment anything as anything they say could potentially harm someone without knowing.
5. Knocking Before Entering
Even if a door's not locked, kids must learn to knock before opening a closed door. Teach them to wait for someone to respond before entering.
It can also let them understand the concept of personal space and be respectful to one's privacy instead of just suddenly barging inside the room.
6. Avoiding Foul Language
Kids are like sponges. They imbibe expressions from whatever TV show or YouTube video they're watching or maybe even from grown-ups. Sometimes, they don't even know that the expression is foul.
So do your best to correct them and discourage cursing and foul language before it becomes a habit. Good manners for kids is all about forming good habits.
7. Not Making Fun Of Others
Teasing or making fun of others is simply bad manners. Parents should also discourage name-calling, no matter how rampant it is on the playground.
Let us teach our kids to be kind to others and refrain from being too judgemental as this could be extremely harmful to how they view things once they grow up.
8. Covering Their Mouth When Coughing Or Sneezing
Out of consideration for others, kids must form the habit of covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing. While face masks a strict no-no for kids under the age of two, the best way, for now, is to train them to sneeze into the elbow.
This is is especially crucial for kids to learn nowadays especially with how COVID-19 is still present in many parts of the world. While you're at it, also teach your child the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene.
9. Not Picking Their Nose In Public
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The same goes for nose-picking. Teach them to wait until they're home, or excuse themselves to go to the bathroom.
10. When Someone Is In Need, Offer To Help
As mentioned earlier, nurturing gratitude in children can help them understand the value of helping those in need. For instance, their aunt is working hard in the kitchen during a family gather, remind them to offer to help. It's the polite thing to do.
11. Not Pouting When Something Is Boring
Kids have to sit through class or church services, and they're not always fun. They also become disinterested during Zoom calls with other family members if they're not included in the conversation. But teach them it's polite to sit properly and be patient.
This may be tough for younger kids, but constant reinforcement will surely help in making this a habit as they grow older.
12. Ask Nicely If You Need Something
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When dining, for instance, teach them not to reach across the table. Instead, encourage them to ask nicely if they need something handed to them and saying "thank you" afterwards.
This would also teach them how to properly ask for help from others such as small favours in the future.
How Good Manners Help In Personality Development For Kids
There are many aspects to a child’s personality that start from their own confidence and self-esteem to teaching them how to treat others with respect. A child’s mind is impressionable between the age of three and six, and willing to grasp everything they see and learn. It is the age to inculcate the right values and practices that groom children into good individuals.
Children learn from their family, friends, neighbourhood, and the playground. Most importantly, they learn from their parents. That’s why parents need to be extra cautious on how they treat people around them - especially to servers, house help or even the store cashier.
Humility goes a long way and when you behave in the right way with people lower than you in the power dynamic, that’s exactly what your child learns as well. It will teach them to treat others with respect, and that’s a value appreciated by adults and kids alike as your child mixes with his peers in school and college.
At the same time, developing a personality is also about knowing your self-worth. For children, self-esteem comes from knowing that they’re loved by their family and the community alike. It comes from spending quality time with the family and being encouraged to try new things.
Trying new things is also a good opportunity to develop greater confidence and the ability to handle failure in life. A child that is often good-mannered will also be communicative about his likes and dislikes. He will be able to voice his opinion without the fear of being judged, setting the right precedent for the kids around him.
What other good manners for kids would you add to the list?
Sources: Parents, Family Education, Everyday Family
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