September is National Children’s Good Manners Month

Parents are so busy these days. Busy trying earn money. Busy trying to shuffle kids to and from school. Busy helping with homework. Busy transporting everyone to practices, lessons and games. Busy preparing meals.

But have we gotten too busy to teach our children good manners?

Good manners are important

• Teachers report that children who use good manners and are polite are less disruptive at school.
• Children who are taught about the etiquette of various circumstances grow up with greater confidence.
• Principles of respect and courtesy make our children less selfish and more aware of others.

10 Basic Manners to Teach our Children

1. “Please” is always a great place to start. We’re bombarded with messages of entitlement and our kids need to be taught that asking nicely is still the way to go.
2. “Thank you” is expected. Teach the art of thank-you note writing early.
3. Sharing is important. No one likes greedy.
4. Interrupting is rude. As hard as it is to wait your turn to speak (especially when you’re excited), it’s important to learn this bit of patience.
5. Table manners never go out of style.
6. Sportsmanship is critical and will be for the rest of their lives.
7. Teach children to hold the door open for others, to offer a seat to someone else who may need it, to let people off the elevator before they enter.
8. Running and yelling are outside activities.
9. Teach modesty at an early age. It’s part of self-respect and puts other at ease.
10. Teach your child how to properly greet others. He/she will be taken so much more seriously.

Good manners don’t make kids stuffy or boring. They make them confident and kind. Let’s slow down a bit and help raise a generation of gracious, considerate little people.

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