Teaching Manners

What really matters?

For parents, children's bad manners can be annoying. For people outside the family circle, bad manners can be an absolute turnoff.   
Good manners are ultimately about respecting others, and therefore they open up possibilities for our kids. Children who can put respect into action by using good manners are often more sought after as playmates and are able to cope more effectively in an adult world.   
A school teacher said it this way, "Teaching your child basic politeness skills will endear them to others" (Walker).

Ultimately you'll decide which manners are important enough to encourage. Here's a list of 10 basic possibilities:

1. Waiting turns and not interrupting.
2. No name calling.
3. Appropriate greetings when visitors arrive.
4. "Please" and "thank you."
5. Cleaning up after yourself.
6. Good sportsmanship.
7. Taking compliments courteously.
8. Opening doors for others.
9. Receiving and giving gifts.
10. Respecting differences.

www.drdaveanddee.com/manners1.html

How to do it.

Focus on the positive. If you notice a child thanking you, thank her right away: "I love hearing you say thanks. It makes me happy, and it makes me want to help you even more."   
Teach. BYU researchers remind us that we are always teaching our children. Three items to keep in mind are:   
1) Our actions matter more than our words. "Tell her thanks will ring hollow if we ourselves don't thank others.   
2) We must treat children with respect. Treating them with good manners will teach them how to do the same for others.   
3) Learning occurs best under pleasant circumstances. Ever tried to force an apology from a child? The best time for the"lesson" is usually not in the heat of the moment (Marchant and Young 12).

What to ignore.

Dr. Latham suggests ignoring what you can as you parent. "As parents, we are inclined to work ourselves into a tizzy over behaviors that just aren't that significant...   
"Be slow to pay attention to behaviors which are basically age-typical and which left alone extinguish because of lack of attention" (Latham 51).   
There you have it: oooh and ahhh over Nathan's use of his napkin at dinner and try to ignore his endless slurping of his soup.

Echo

Maybe you've been lucky enough to hear your child echo something you say almost verbatim (or should that be "unlucky enough"?). "Remember that children learn best by example. Thanking them for the things they do will go a long way in emphasizing the importance of it" (Walker). Thank, thank, thank your children for their good efforts with manners.

Because Oprah Said So

Oprah's been known to say that teaching manners to children is one of the most important things you can do for your children. Regardless of whether or not she's right, it doesn't hurt to point out to your kids that grownups generally prefer to be around children who are well mannered, and how privileges are lost (other parents not allowing them to play with their children, for example) when they aren't well mannered.

Thank You Notes

Help your children write basic thank you notes at an early age. One mom printed out a photo of each guest at her daughter's birthday party as the daughter opened their present. On the back of the photo she simply had her daughter write, "thank you," and her name. For older children, let them pick out or create thank you notes that fit their personality, and have them on hand for when the occasion arises.

Family Home Evening

Proverbs 16:24 reads, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Teaching children about manners in the context of spiritual things,as a way we can show love and respect for each other's well as how important it is for missionaries to have good manners can be a fun way to approach a lesson.

Manner Meter

One mom wrote to the Ensign about teaching her preschoolers table etiquette and manners. "I folded a small piece of cardboard in half and drew a smiley face on one side and a sad face on the other. As the children behaved and displayed proper manners, their "manner meter" displayed its happy side. But if they forgot and held their fork wrong, slouched, or spoke out of turn, their manner meter was turned to the sad side until they corrected their behavior" (Pat Estes). She also mentioned it was fun for the kids to take turns "metering" Mom and Dad.

Rewards

One great thing about manners is that they are naturally rewarding, all you have to do is point it out to your child. "You get to come out to dinner with us because you know how to behave well at restaurants. If you didn't, we'd probably have to leave you home with a sitter."

Chart It

If you need an extra boost with manners, maybe a manners chart might help. Simply list the behaviors you want to see in your kids, give them stickers or smileys when they perform, and watch your house turn into a manners wonderland! (OK, maybe not a wonderland, but this will help.)

Simpson Etiquette

Bart Simpson is not the best etiquette teacher. You may consider limiting certain shows because of the behavior they teach. As you watch TV with your child you can explain what really might happen as a consequence of bad behavior.

Mrs. Walker, a first grade teacher wrote, "Teaching your child basic politeness skills will endear them to others" (Walker).

Children receive natural rewards when they are well mannered: they are preferred as playmates, and adults want to be around them more.

But one of the best reasons to teach children manners is that manners are a great way to show respect to others.

Sources

Estes, Pat. "Random Sampler," Ensign, Feb 1984, 58-60.   
Latham, Glenn I. The Power of Positive Parenting. Logan, UT: P&T Ink, 2006.   
Marchant, M. & Young, R. (2005). 3 B's of effective parenting: Be proactive, be positive, and be consistent. Marriage and Families, (Winter), 18-25.   
Walker, Ardith. "What First Grade Teachers Wish Parents Would Teach Their Kids." Unpublished article.