Teaching Kids Good Manners: A Guide for Parents
Manners are important at any age. Yet the foundation for great manners starts from the earliest of ages, which is why they’re critical to learn as children. This foundation extends beyond simply saying “please” and “thank you.” As kids learn to exist and flourish in the world around them, their ability to exhibit good manners shows they have respect for others. It also helps them grow into kind, considerate adults. All it takes is a bit of planning and effort to instill great manners in your children. If you’re interested in teaching kids good manners in your home, use the following ideas to encourage considerate, thoughtful interactions in them.
Start With the Basics
Good manners start with everyday politeness you can easily model in daily interactions with your kids. Encourage your kids to say “please” and “thank you” to get them comfortable saying them as second nature. Teach them these terms in sign language, too, to add another level of comfort to their use of these phrases. Next, give them an understanding of “excuse me” by helping them know when it’s appropriate to use it, such as to ask a question after sneezing. And explain that “sorry” comes with sincerity and understanding of a mistake, helping them recognize when an apology is needed.
Model Good Manners Yourself
One of the best examples for teaching kids good manners is to model good manners yourself. Children learn by example and then imitate those behaviors. That includes using respectful language and actions. Don’t forget that they’ll also model bad behaviors, so be intentional about praising them when they do positive things. Be sure to highlight why you’re using positive manners so kids can understand the purpose of them. And be sure to ask your friends, family, and other caregivers to get involved so your kids have the consistency they need to make progress.
Practice Good Table Manners at Home
Practicing good table manners can teach children simple mealtime rules that are important for a lifetime. Some of those basic rules include chewing with your mouth closed, using napkins, and waiting for others to be served before eating. Work as a family to establish goals for the table, such as putting technology away and having meaningful conversations together. And don’t forget to praise small wins, like asking for food to be passed across the table or celebrating when the kids help clear dishes. These positive actions can go a long way toward building great manners at the table.
Teach Respect for Others’ Boundaries
Boundaries are important for everyone to know and understand, but that’s especially true for children who don’t always understand a person’s need for personal space. Yet boundaries are so important for many other reasons. Not only do kids to learn about keeping their hands to themselves and provide adequate space. They also need to learn to demonstrate respectful ways to interact and to vocalize their own needs. Encourage them to ask before taking or touching things that belong to someone else and speaking up if someone does the same to them. Use role-playing scenarios to practice these interactions. These simple actions can go a long way toward teaching kids good manners.
Show Gratitude in Daily Life
Research shows kids are happier, more optimistic, and healthier when they have gratitude. Just as important, grateful kids turn into grateful adults. Showing your kids how to be grateful is an important social skill that will last a lifetime. Some simple ways to show your kids gratitude is to encourage them to say “thank you” and when they do so on their own, praise them for recognizing the opportunity. Teach your kids to write thank-you notes for gifts. You could even start a family gratitude jar or simply talk about the things you’re grateful for every day.
Handle Mistakes with Grace
Mistakes can feel awful. But they don’t have to. Mistakes are opportunities to grow, and that’s a lesson people of all ages can learn from. But it’s all in how we handle them. To teach kids to handle it with grace, talk with them about owning up to those mistakes and trying again. Encourage your kids to apologize sincerely when they make a mistake. Have them write apology notes if it makes sense or do it in person and in the moment. Finally, teach them to accept apologies with kindness and grace.
Get Added Support from PALS
As a parent, you don’t have to try to instill manners all alone. Teaching kids good manners takes a village. The great news is that you can find a preschool that supports the work you’re doing already. PALS Praise & Leadership Schools uses a curriculum that supports moral character and builds your child’s self-esteem and skills in the process. PALS teaches kids to think, reason, be responsible, achieve, excel, and communicate exceptionally. And we’re here to help reinforce those great manners every step of the way.
To learn more about PALS, we invite you to tour one or both of our Peoria IL locations. Contact our North Peoria campus, located at 2327 W Willow Knolls Rd., at 309-691-4326. Or you can find our Downtown Peoria campus at 700 NE Greenleaf and 309-674-2938. We look forward to showing how your child can excel with PALS Praise & Leadership Schools working alongside of you.
