Good Manners will Help Children

Good manners are one of the keys to success – no matter what field you may be entering. Good manners will help with developing relationships, maintaining accounts or building up a business. You will find that good manners can open doors that have remained shut tight to others. It is important that children learn good manners at an early age so that they can use them to help propel them through life.

There are a number of factors that have reduced the manners of today’s society. Technology is one of the reasons. Internet, text messaging and even the cell phone have all worked to reduce the amount of good manners used in communications. Technology has also virtually eliminated common good manners practices like thank-you notes.

Fortunately, good manners are still finding their way into society. “Blast from the Past” was a movie whose main character was all about good manners. When discussing his manners with other characters, he said that it was all about making the people around you feel comfortable.

Good manners should help the people around you feel more comfortable and respected. Teaching children good manners is not difficult. It may just take some time and plenty of consistency. Follow these tips and you can’t go wrong:

1. Practice what you preach. Children learn more from our actions than they do from our words. Use good manners yourself. Whether you are answering the phone or dealing with a checker at the grocery store, you should use “please”, “thank you”, and other phrases that show respect for the people you are talking with.

2. Be repetitive when teaching good manners. Repeat the phrases as many times as it takes. It is amazing how quickly toddlers can pick up the phrases if they are used to using them on a regular basis.

3. Watch and listen to examples that show good manners. Some television programs have children that are respectful and polite to the people around them. Let these be the family shows of choice.

4. Have regular “good manners” lessons. Teach table etiquette, writing thank-you notes and proper introductions. If you aren’t sure how to teach these elements, then check the internet or even the phone book for schools that teach good manners to children of all ages.

5. Give the children a chance to practice what they have learned. Let them answer the phone. Take them out to dinner at a fancy, sit-down restaurant (check the menu beforehand for children-friendly choices). Introduce them to adults that you may speak to while you are out together.

Learning good manners is something that will help anyone at any stage in their lives. Teaching children good manners is probably the best way to help them with all their future endeavors.