Good Manners for Kids

Teaching your child manners is an important part of social acceptance. Whether with family, friends or in the company of strangers, your child needs to know how to behave himself. Manners teach your child to respect you and those around them, and it also teaches your child discipline. One of the best ways to teach your child manners is by example, so remember that when you are on the phone, at the dinner table or socializing with other people.

  1. Patience

    • Patience is something that should be taught at a young age. A child might scream and throw a fit for something they want at that moment, and although it might seem easier to give him what he wants, it won't teach him anything. All throughout life, patience plays an important role, whether you are waiting in line, waiting for your meal to be served or waiting for a phone call to end before asking questions. In the long run, children will learn that it is easiest to wait their turn than fight for attention and that patience is a big part of being polite.

    Cleaning

    • Leaving a mess behind for someone else to clean up is impolite. When your child is at a friend's house, it is common courtesy to clean up after herself if a mess is made. Home is the best place to start good cleaning manners. If the child has made the mess, she should learn to clean it up. Start by having her take her dishes to the sink to be cleaned, picking up her toys before bed or putting her dirty laundry in the correct clothes basket. If your child is doing this at home, it should become habit to clean up after herself at home and at her friends' homes.

    Good Sportsmanship

    • Too often you will see a child get upset about a missed ball, or another team's goal or point. This reaction is impolite to the opposing team and could affect other teammates negatively. Good sportsmanship teaches a child that its OK to lose or not play perfectly. Sportsmanship is not only for losing, but also for winning as well. When a child shows good sportsmanship, he is letting the other team know that he appreciated playing and is happy to play.

    Table Manners

    • The dinner table should be a place where a family can enjoy each other's company and talk about their day. If children are busy playing with toys on the table, throwing food, making rude noises or disrupting conversation, this can change the dynamic of the family dinner table. Teach your child to keep her elbows of the table, which will help reduce spills. She should not be taking bites larger than necessary or talking with her mouth open. Reaching over other people's plates is also rude.

    Please and Thank You

    • Kids are all taught from a young age that "please" and "thank you" are necessary every day. When your child asks for a drink or a snack, remind them to say "please" before getting what they have asked for. When you hand them what they requested, require a "thank you" as well. This simple manners device teaches your child respect for others.

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