It is said – “good manners start early”. That’s why parents start imbibing etiquettes and manners in Children from an early age. Children can start learning manners and etiquettes from the age of 2. But parents must take care that they do not over do and pressurize little ones.
Parents on special occasions, parties and family gatherings want children to display best of their behavior. For children to exhibit respect, tolerance, and social graces at special times means that they must already be acquainted with societal mores and etiquettes. But how can parents do this?
Parents on special occasions, parties and family gatherings want children to display best of their behavior. For children to exhibit respect, tolerance, and social graces at special times means that they must already be acquainted with societal mores and etiquettes. But how can parents do this?
- Reinforcing positively: There are many ways of doing this, from telling them to what to do or by reinforcing it positively in children.
- Praise and applaud: Praise your child whenever he displays good manners and etiquette's. This reinforces the behavior. You can express it by saying - "I was proud of your good table manners when we had dinner at Aunt Sonia’s house.” This also lets the child know what he/she is doing is correct.
- Model good manners and etiquette for your child. Showing him what to do yourself. Parents are the foremost and best teachers for the child.
- Please and Thank You: These two phrases are foundation for manners and etiquette's. They are still most valuable and their use shows a person has manners more than anything else. In order to teach these words as a parent you must use them.
- Greetings: Teaching child, how to greet properly is important. A proper greeting shows confidence and maturity in the child. The way child meets and greets people showcases lot about his personality. Making eye contact is also important etiquette too.
- Explaining to the child helps in understand: why a certain behavior is proper etiquette or good manners. Provide examples of other people to the child as well. This teaches your child the cause and effect of etiquette.
- Tips and Warnings: Restrict TV shows and programs that pose negative influence on the child as children may pick up bad manners from cartoons, television shows and peers.
- Watch your language and words: Children may grasp foul language and words from the peer group and other avenues. But you can teach kids good manners and impress everyone around them with their knowledge of basic etiquette.
- Follow consistently: You must follow this consistently until good manners become automatic. Soon you'll be proud of your child as he will impress others with his politeness and proper etiquette.
