Good manners are an important part of your child's development. You should think of what you value most in terms of good manners, and attempt to instill these good habits into your child from an early age. The types of good manners you may wish to address are table manners, social interaction, and greeting others with respect. Remember if you are teaching your child good manners, it is important you act in a manner consistent with what you are asking at all times.
Good manners
Step 1
Start using words like please, thank you, and sorry around your child so that you can lead by example. Teach your child the meaning of these words and when they are used, praise your child when they perform the behaviors you are looking for. You should pay attention to the language you use, and the tone of voice you use around your child. If you are short tempered and of curt tone, you may well see your child copying your behavior. It is hard to teach and instill a behavior unless you are acting that way yourself. Remember as a parent you are sometimes the only knowledge your child has of how to act in the world, their first role model, and an important figure they want to emulate.
Step 2
Teach your child about social interaction. This is important from the first day in garden, your child should learn it is OK to share and not become possessive of things such as common toys in a classroom, this is selfishness and bad manners that can develop worse as the years go by. Also it is a good idea to teach your child to defer to elders with respect and address them with a different moniker (Mr. & Mrs.).
Step 3
Set a standard at the table. Teach your child that chewing with an open mouth is both unhygienic and poor manners. Also teach to keep elbows off the table and to not interfere with the food of others.
Step 4
Use consistency when enforcing the good manners you teach your child. When a child performs a good behavior you are looking for positively reinforce them. In the early stages you should aim to do this more frequently. When your child exhibits bad manners, you should address it immediately. Do not wait or let it go as you are trying to create an association between right and wrong in the mind of your child. This can only be achieved through consistent addressing when bad manners are displayed. Try not to embarrass your child when doing this, it may be best to address in public briefly, then explain in private what they did wrong and why you want them to act differently.
Tips and Warnings
- You should ensure your child feels loved throughout the process of being taught good manners.
- Avoid becoming frustrated or short tempered at your child when they perform bad manners. Calmly address it and show them a better way.
