Teach Your Children Good Manners: Six Everyday Etiquette Skills

Regardless of what you might see on TV sitcoms, cartoons or reality shows, manners are not going out of style. Children raised with good manners are actually better prepared to live in the real world. No matter how outdated it may seem, people who know how to respect others and carry themselves with dignity will have more doors open for them in the future. Model good manners at home and away. It really is true, manners are better caught than taught.

Six Everyday Etiquette Skills

Foundational basics. Saying please and thank you encourages cooperation and even improves the atmosphere. Using the phrase, "excuse me," is appropriate and often overlooked when you are in your own home. Immediately saying I'm sorry when you realize you overstepped a boundary or made a mistake is important. Apologizing does not diminish your authority. Making mistakes is a part of life, show your children how to handle themselves when they are wrong.

Table manners. When children know how to navigate a formal dinner, they can feel confident when going to grandma's, a friends house or to a restaurant for a meal. I remember the terror I felt when first dating and being completely unsure of how to handle myself in a formal setting. Don't let that happen to your child. Teach them how to put a napkin on their lap, which fork to use and how to eat slowly while carrying on a conversation. It is never to early to start using table manners at home.

Appreciating others. My sister in law is an expert in this every etiquette skill. Noticing and expressing appreciation to others is part of her gracious nature. Teach children to notice others and make a point to say thank you, even when it is not expected, especially when it is not expected. Along the same line, help your children know what to do when they are paid a compliment.

Communicate feelings. Expressing frustration or anger in a respectful way is challenging, but needs to be practiced. Learn to use "I" statements rather than hurling the "you" phrases. For example, staying, "I am frustrated the dishes are not done yet," instead of, "You didn't do your job." In the same way, name-calling is also off limits since it only escalates anger instead of dealing with it. This little change leaves room for problem-solving.

Public manners. Being considerate of your surroundings is something that children will see, and emulate. Pick up after yourself, throw trash in the proper containers and leave an area better than you found it more often than not.

Extra credit. Opening doors for others, saying hi to strangers and making friendly small talk with store clerks are all extremely simple steps that can make a difference in how you are perceived and how you feel about yourself. When your child watches you do these uncommonly common courtesies day by day, they will understand how it's done. When you encourage them to follow suit they will see how important it is to you.



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