If your child is grabby and refuses to say "please" and "thank you," she may not realize that she is being rude. Some children pick up manners more quickly than others, says pediatrician, William Sears, M.D., in the article "Morals and Manners" on AskDrSears.com. If you make every day an opportunity to teach your child a lesson about manners, they will become second nature to her.
Table Manners
If your child never sits at a dinner table except at a restaurant, he may have no idea that he is expected to eat with a fork and chew with his mouth closed while he's eating. To show your child how to act at a dinner table, eat with him at the table every night. Set a fork at his place and instruct him that if he is old enough to use a fork, he should eat most foods with a fork. Make exceptions for finger foods, like chicken fingers. Stick with an eating routine, like instructing your child to place a napkin on his lap before he is served and asking to be excused after dinner.
Telephone Manners
If your child is intrigued by the telephone, teach her how to answer it. Try a mock phone conversation between the two of you by calling your daughter on your cell phone while you're in the house. Teach her to say "hello" when answering the phone and have her ask who is calling before giving the phone over to you. Remind your child to tell you if someone is on the phone instead of letting the person on the other end wait on the line. Remind your child to never tell a stranger that you or your spouse is not home.
Magic Words
Instruct your child to say "please" when asking for something and "thank you" when receiving something. Do not scold your child for not saying the magic words, but gently remind him until these words become a habit. When your child asks you for something, instruct him to say "please" in a kind way. Expect that a toddler may forget to say "please" and "thank you," and understand that he is not being disrespectful or disobedient if he forgets, according to Lisa Cooper in the article "How to Teach Your Toddler Manners" on BabyZone.com.
Public Manners
When you and your child are out of the house, it may be easier for you to notice her manners. Quietly instruct your child not to talk to strangers, point at people who look different or talk about other people she sees. Explain that drawing attention to someone who looks different might hurt that person's feelings. When you are out in public, lead by example. Your child may be picking up on the fact that you are rude to a waitress or cashier, then try to imitate the behavior herself.
