As parents, one of our parenting goals is to make sure our kids grow up to be well-mannered individuals. We want to instill in them positive values and teach them appropriate behaviors, as these are vital to their future success. When children interact appropriately with others and display manners, it will make their lives more pleasant, help them make friends and increase their positive experiences in social settings. However,  good manners are not something that we are naturally born with. They need to be taught and it is the parents’ responsibility to make that happen. 

Take a look at this list of good manners that should be taught to children at a young age:

Use of polite words

It’s never too early to teach young kids the importance of using polite words such as “thank you”, “please”, “sorry”, and “excuse me”. Explain to your little one when these words are necessary. More importantly, model the use of these kind words yourself and use them as often as you can. They are more likely to follow suit when you set the example. Developing the habit of using polite words in social interactions will result in others wanting to be around your child and will make their lives more pleasant overall.

Being kind to others

Nothing is as rewarding as sprinkling kindness everywhere. No matter how young, it’s imperative that we instill in our kids the value of kindness and putting others first. Kindness doesn’t always have to be shown through grand gestures. We can exhibit kindness in smaller ways as simple as giving up a seat for the elderly, offering a helping hand, sharing the last cookie, and so on. Set the example for your child and show kindness to others in any way you can.

Behaving appropriately

Now this one’s a bit challenging because all young kids tend to misbehave at times. This doesn’t mean you should give up on trying to teach your child how to behave appropriately. Just like teaching them the use of polite and kind words, it’s also important for kids to learn about good behavior while they’re young. Children need  to be taught important things like not to interrupt when others are talking, how to queue in line when ordering food or paying at the cashier at the grocery store, and how to share food and toys with their playmates.

Respecting others

Whether it’s other people or places, things or animals, children need to learn the golden rule of respect. They need to understand that this is a way of showing their consideration to others and is something that should be inculcated in the early part of their development.  Guide your little one into thinking more about the welfare of others and how their actions could impact other people, things or animals. Ask them how they want to be treated in return. Not only will this teach respect but they’ll also learn about empathy.

Table manners

Whether you’re dining out as a family or enjoying a hearty meal at home, table manners should be part of every meal. But since table manners are something that young kids aren’t naturally born with, it’s where your role as a parent comes in. By teaching your little one good manners, you equip them with the important tools they can use for social interactions which will serve them for a lifetime. It will help make them become sociable and pleasant companions during meal times with the family and other groups. 

Not hurting other people

Children should be taught early on that it’s never okay to hurt other people. It’s not okay to hurt them physically nor hurt them verbally. In today’s society where scenes of violence can be seen everywhere, it’s even more important to emphasize in kids that people shouldn’t hurt other people. Tell them that they can’t just bully someone or make fun of someone because it’s never right and they don’t want others doing the same to them.

Respecting the elders

It’s a sad reality how some youngsters of new generations no longer pay respect to the elderly. This is why parents need to make sure their little ones are taught to show respect to elders. From parents, to grandparents, teachers and other adults they encounter, children should learn that these people are to be respected not only because of their age but because of their experiences that led them to wisdom.

Children at a young age have brains that are incredibly absorbent. Make use of this opportunity to instill in them the importance of good manners and etiquette.

For more parenting tips or if you’re looking for a good quality preschool for your little one, please feel free to visit Creative Learning Academy.