You shouldn’t rush too much to teach your children manners and etiquette. At a young age, children absorb everything incredulously. Whatever they are taught remains clearly in their minds, and they quickly grasp it through observation rather than being explicitly taught.
Children’s manners, behavior, and etiquette indicate their upbringing. Teaching children etiquette can be a significant task, but ensure you don’t lose patience while teaching them. Maintaining patience overall is also good etiquette. Children often learn to be good role models from adults. Therefore, it’s crucial for us as mentors and parents to demonstrate the best etiquette in front of our children so they can observe and learn from it.
Instilling good manners in your child will mold them into a well-rounded, humble, compassionate individual and ensure their success in life. In this article, we will look at a list of 20 good behaviors and etiquette that you should teach and instill in your child.
Why are Children Manners Important in Society?
Children always have an advantage over others with good manners, whether it’s academically or socially. Here are some points mentioned where good behavior and etiquette prove beneficial for children.
-
Increases Self-Respect
Being recognized for good manners and seeing the positive impact of their behavior in the real world further instills confidence in children. Feeling worthy of respect is a great booster for their self-confidence.
-
Social Life
Children who typically display strong or aggressive tendencies often evoke a negative response from others, whereas those who interact with their peers and friends with kindness and respect tend to become more popular and attract more admirers who are drawn to their exemplary behavior. Good manners result in stronger and more positive relationships.
-
More opportunities
Children who practice good manners often stand out from the crowd and may encounter better opportunities in their educational and career paths. There is a strong likelihood of being appointed in professional fields and advancing quickly in their careers for those who are courteous and respectful individuals.
-
Happiness and contentment
When someone receives a positive response for a good deed or behavior from others, it fosters a sense of satisfaction and happiness, encouraging them to repeat those actions as part of their habits. As a result of good manners, children develop resilience, confidence, and self-assurance.
20 Good Manners Quotes, Definitely Teach Your Children.
1. Teaching The Habit of Saying “please” and “thank you.”
This is one of the primary manners you should teach your child. The importance of saying “please” or “please” when asking for something and saying “thank you” when receiving something should be ingrained in children from the very beginning. Practice saying it consistently so that it becomes a habit for them and they naturally express it from their initiative.
2. Seeking Permission Before Touching or Taking Something.
Children should be taught to seek permission before touching or taking anything, even from their belongings or those of their parents. It’s essential to teach them to ask for permission before handling anything, and returning items with appropriate gratitude is also crucial.
3. Teaching to Say “sorry” or “apologies” When Needed
Teaching your child to say “sorry” or “apologies” alongside “please” and “thank you,” and also teaching them to say “sorry” when they make a mistake, is an important practice to instill in them. Help your child understand when and where to say “sorry” and when not to use it. Empathy is a quality that should be instilled in them.
4. Knocking on The Door before Entering The Room.
Designed by Freepik
Children should be taught that privacy is universal, especially at home. They should understand that knocking on someone’s door before entering and asking for permission is respectful. By establishing this practice early on in front of your children, you help them develop it as a good habit.
5. Covering The Mouth When Sneezing or Coughing.
Teach your children to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing. Additionally, instruct them that it is inappropriate and unpleasant to touch their nose or face in public or front of others. Following this not only constitutes a good habit but also adhering to proper hygiene practices.
6. Teaching Them to say “excuse me.”
This is another primary skill to teach children. Children sometimes become impatient, so they should be taught to say “excuse me” before speaking. It’s also important to let them know and teach them when and how to enter a conversation without interrupting or causing offense.
7. Not Making Fun of or Ridiculing Others
It’s important to teach them this very soon, and if not done, children may think it’s okay to make fun of people. Teaching them this is very important; making fun of or mocking someone, whether in public or private, is never acceptable.
8. Phone Etiquette
Your child needs to know how to speak on the phone and understand that it’s necessary to listen quietly when the other person is speaking. This will have a positive impact on others.
9. Showing Respect Towards Adults
Adults who have lived on this earth for a long time often possess wisdom, and it is appropriate for children to learn from their experiences and knowledge, showing respect towards them. Respect should be shown towards parents, grandparents, teachers, and any other adults. One way to do this could be by serving food to elders first during mealtime, or offering one’s seat to an elderly person, even if it’s a child when they spot an older person in public transport. These actions will be observed by your child, and they will learn that showing respect toward adults is a sign of good behavior.
10. Teaching children to learn and remember people’s names
Repeatedly using someone’s name and remembering it demonstrates your effort to recognize and recall them. Encourage your child to engage in conversation and interactions with family members or their friends, using their names frequently, to help them remember and recognize them.
11. Not pointing fingers at people and not talking
Teaching your child not to point fingers or gesture toward someone while speaking is an introduction to manners. Tell them that if they ever point fingers or gesture towards someone, those three fingers will always point back at themselves. You can start teaching them this from the beginning to make them aware of other people’s feelings. Then, you may want to find out how they feel if someone points fingers or gestures towards them and use that as a proper step to make them think about the matter.
12. To be empathetic towards people with disabilities
Children are naturally curious about everything, so if they see someone with a physical disability, they may point or gesture toward them and ask questions about them. They might even feel afraid when they see them. It’s important to let them know that there are people with physical disabilities in our world just like everyone else, and they deserve to be treated with the same respect and understanding.
13. Becoming a Good Listener
Children should be taught to be calm, respectful, and polite when visiting their friends’ homes. They need to understand how to adjust themselves to the schedule of other families, refrain from being picky about the food served, avoid making faces or showing displeasure, and express their preferences without hesitation. It’s also important to teach them to extend appropriate greetings to the hosts when visiting their friends’ homes.
14. Communicating effectively is important
It’s not appropriate to teach children to speak loudly, shout, or talk loudly with laughter as part of communication. How excited or angry they are is not the issue; it’s important to speak gently and softly with them and stay steady in that goal. You can teach it to your children by doing the same in front of them. Also, let them know that they need to wait patiently and remain silent until others finish speaking, and they must wait for their turn to speak. This will teach your children to be patient in listening to your words as well.
15. Teach them to be compassionate and empathetic
Children need to develop the habit of being compassionate and empathetic. This will help them feel good about themselves and be liked by others. You can teach them that when someone enters the house with their hands full, they should open the door for them and hold their hand or offer immediate help to parents and teachers.
16. Teach them to share with everyone
When children play together, it’s essential to instill the habit of sharing among them. Teaching them to share their toys and snacks with others means instilling a sense of caring for each other. You can start teaching them this skill during playtime, by, for example, sharing play materials equally among them and mentioning how it makes the game even more fun for everyone involved.
17. Teaching children to keep themselves clean and organize their belongings
Children may sometimes make a mess around them while eating or fail to put away their toys and clothes properly after using them. Teaching them the habit of keeping themselves clean and organized firmly is essential. You can encourage them to wash their plates in the sink after eating or involve them in household chores to help them learn to keep things tidy over time.
18. Teach them to be honest
Teach children to be honest from a young age, and tell them never to tell lies. These fundamental principles of life should be instilled in your child from the beginning. Encourage them to have a strong commitment to what they say and do. Explain to them that empty promises will never elevate them to greatness – emphasize to them why it is essential always to speak the truth. Be consistent and convey to them that integrity is the ultimate path. Building moral development among them right from the start is crucial.
19. Teach them not to avoid eye contact with others but to establish eye contact instead
Encourage maintaining eye contact during conversations as it fosters social confidence and respect for others. Spend quality time with your children and teach them the importance of maintaining eye contact when talking. Emphasize the significance of this habit, as mastering it can help them build better social relationships with people.
20. Encourage the use of appropriate language
Teach children never to use vulgar language in front of anyone as it is highly disrespectful and unpleasant. Even if they hear it on TV or elsewhere, it’s important to instill in them the habit of refraining from it. Keeping oneself composed in such situations is of utmost importance. Sit them down in a calm environment and explain why using such language is not appropriate.
More Read: What to eat for children to sleep well at night?
How to Teach Your Children Manners and Respect?
As a parent, it is your responsibility to instill the importance of good Children manners and behavior in your children and ensure their adherence to these principles. To teach your child good habits, you can follow the following guidelines:
- The first step is to internalize all the good habits yourself. Children look up to their parents as role models, so they try to emulate what they see in them. If you want your child to develop manners, then you should also practice what you preach in front of them. Even in moments of frustration, do not deviate from displaying proper etiquette and manners in front of your children.
- Reinforce good habits such as being humble, polite greetings, keeping oneself tidy, helping with household chores, maintaining proper table manners, etc., by repeatedly practicing them with your child at home until they become ingrained in their minds and behavior.
- When your child does something right or exhibits good habits, make sure to acknowledge it with words of encouragement and praise. Associating positive reinforcement with good behavior will further encourage them to excel. Conversely, ignoring or neglecting your child’s good habits and behavior could have adverse effects, as they may resort to negative behavior to seek attention from you.
- When your child makes a mistake, correct them gently, even if it occurs during a conversation with someone else. Take a moment to address their mistake and quickly rectify it. However, if your child is extremely self-conscious, you can address it privately later.
- Your child’s occasional lack of attention and restlessness may sometimes frustrate or disappoint you, but be patient. Never lose your temper and refrain from getting irritated with your child’s behavior. If you remain calm and composed, your child will also respond in the same manner.
- If you teach your children to respect people of other religions, groups, genders, and races, make sure to practice the same inclusivity in your own life. Teach your children to judge others solely based on their character and not by any other criteria.
- Always speak to your child and those around you politely and respectfully, refraining from using any vulgar words or language. In the realm of teaching manners, the first few words your child learns should be ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘sorry,’ ‘may I,’ and ‘excuse me.’ Use these words repeatedly when speaking with your child and encourage them to use them as well. Make it a rule in your home and let your child practice and internalize all these good habits.
Good behavior and manners are fundamental elements that will instill a sense of propriety in your children and mold them into better individuals as they grow older. They will learn to interact easily with people, achieve success in their careers or academics, and build good relationships with others. A polite, humble, and discerning child will undoubtedly leave the best impression on the world. Therefore, start teaching your children these manners right from their childhood!
aspernatur similique soluta occaecati repudiandae a molestias molestiae eligendi accusamus doloribus harum quo aspernatur et perferendis aliquid rerum eum sit. eum vitae beatae est ut delectus porro p
deleniti non enim quasi eveniet quia et libero. iure amet ut voluptatem sint aperiam perferendis voluptas commodi nisi. repudiandae ut dolores et ut mollitia consequatur cum accusantium neque. et quia