Activities to Teach Children Manners & Courtesy

Ball and Courtesy

• Give your son a ball; after he has played with it for a few minutes, hold out your hand and ask, "Please, may I have the ball?" When he gives it to you, tell him "thank you." Remember that you are your child's role model and begin building a foundation for a courteous son early.

Meal Time

• Once a month, have a "fancy dinner day" when everyone wears their Sunday best, eats with the correct dinnerware and is extra polite to one another. Encourage your daughter to stay in her seat while eating and to follow your example of wiping your mouth and not talking with food in your mouth. This monthly activity will teach your children proper table manners.

Thank You Notes

• When sending out thank you notes for gifts, ask you son what he would like to say and have him sign the note. A small note from you to the gift giver, followed by message written word for word as he tells you, will teach him to show gratitude for the gift. It is the perfect time to remind him that people give gifts out of kindness, not because they have to give them.

Telephone

• Your daughter needs to know how to speak on the telephone. Unhook a landline telephone so that you and your daughter can practice phone etiquette. Tell her how many numbers make a phone number, show her how to dial the phone and then coach her on what to say. Use cordless, rotary and cell phones to keep her attention and set up different scenarios at each practice. Teach her to call you at the office, her grandmother's house and her cousins. She will laugh as you use different voices to match the situation.

Shaking Hands

• Wash your hands together before pretending you are your son's boss and say "Hello, Harold. How are you today?" Hold your hand out for him to shake. Instruct him to have a firm grasp, to look you in the eye and smile. He will use this skill often as he grows up.

Sportsmanship

• Invite neighborhood kids over to play a game of kickball. Whether your daughter is on the winning or losing team, teach her to be graceful by shaking the other team's hand while saying, "Good game." Allow her to show her excitement, but remind her that is disrespectful to put the other team down by name-calling.