Children should know why they need good manners. An understanding of that is the key to good and positive behaviour.
I’m writing this blog as a parent and a teacher. I feel that good manners and respect are necessary for people to be able live together in this world. Manners and respect should be a part of our core values.
I also feel very strongly that manners should be taught at home. School is a place where children should be taught how to read, write and do mathematics. By understanding the value of manners by a school going age, children come to understand that the root of good manners is respect for others.
Why are manners important?
- They imply stable values.
- Manners makes a lasting impression.
- They helps us to choose our words wisely.
- Manners refer to polite and good social behaviour.
- They play a significant role in building relationships and friendships.
- They show others that you care about them.
- Manners make other people feel appreciated and respected.
- They earn respect in return.
- Manners reflect what or how you have been taught and raised.
- They help you to feel good about yourself, which is important for a healthy self-image.
Think of manners as traffic lights for life, said Pier Forni, a professor at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. On the road, traffic lights turn a world full of cars moving in different directions into an orderly system that allows everyone to get where they are going. “The rules of good manners are the traffic lights of human interaction,” Forni explains. “They make it so that we don’t crash into one another in everyday behaviour.”
Early humans lived in groups in order to hunt, share food and keep one another warm. But to live so close together, humans had to learn to think about others, not just themselves. Think of it this way, if every person in the group looked out for only himself, the group would fall apart.
7 ways to teach your child manners
- Lead by example: say please when you ask your child to do something for you. Let your child hear you use manner words, like ‘please’and ‘thank you’, frequently. This way they will learn to model your manners. Address your child politely and they will eventually catch onto the idea of polite talk.
- Let them wait their turn: The root of good manners is to respect others. Being assertive is an excellent trait but it shouldn’t override politeness and good manners. Your child needs to learn to wait their turn to speak and not interrupt when others are speaking.
- Show them how to accept compliments: Teach your child to accept compliments politely, by saying thank you at the appropriate time.
- Explain how sensitivity is part of being respectful: Good manners reflect a loving and considerate personality.
- Acknowledge the use of good manners: This will help your child understand that they have values and help them to see that they are socially aware.
- Emphasize that manners should come naturally: Don’t force the use of manners. By making it part and parcel of your daily life it should come naturally, although a reminder may be needed from time to time.
- Create an environment where good manners are expected: Bring your child up in an environment that expects good manners by teaching them to respect the views of others. Also remember that you, as a parent, also deserve respect. Your child should also understand that they should treat authority figures with respect even if they don’t agree with them.
Good manners keep order and civility in society. So, do your child a favour and teach them what good manners and respect are, as well as how to use them. Manners make everyone’s life easier!
Believe me, ALL children with good manners, that are used appropriately, are noticed and enjoyed in a classroom environment. A classroom with well-mannered children is a place conducive to effective learning and happy children!
Hi Adele, thank you, I agree… if we start early in a child’s life by modelling good manners and kindness and respect the child will copy our behaviour automatically. I think it is absolutely necessary for good manners to come from the heart. Lip service is not enough.
Thank you for your excellent article!
Pene
Great article!Thanks for sharing the tips! It’s really important to teach kids a positive behavior.
Great article!Thanks for sharing the tips! It’s really important to teach kids a positive behavior.
thank you
Teaching manners at young age makes it easy for them to adapt as well. Manners are something that help you build good character.
great topic choice.
Hi Betty! Thanks for your comment, I’m really happy to hear that you found the topic on our blog useful!
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Ross 🙂
Great article indeed! manners are very important for our kids to be taught and us adults to practice what we preach to them. I know that because I have a 16-year-old boy it is so difficult to deal with him, I feel like he does not respect me the way he talks to me and other older people I have always taught him manners.
Hi Linah, thanks for your comment! I’m glad you found our blog helpful! I completely understand your concern regarding your son as it can become quite difficult trying to teach your kids manners at times. I would suggest that you follow our easy 7-step guidelines to teaching your son manners and please let us know how this goes? I would love to hear back from you!
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Great choice of topic
Thanks so much Gabriel! I’m glad to see that you found our article helpful.
Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is ever anything that you would like for us to cover in our blog articles.😁