Etiquette guru Emily Post once said, "Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use."
The operative word here is awareness. Around the 18-month mark, a child begins to understand that other people have feelings just like his, so this is the time to start teaching kids that their behavior affects others. Easier said than done, of course. What parent hasn't looked the other way when she hears the greasy thud of a chicken nugget hitting the kitchen wall? Here's what we need to know and how to get started.
Fact#1: Good manners are a good habit. "Behaving politely is a way of life, not just something you pull out when you're at fancy restaurant "
It's important to start as marly as you can so manners become something a child does automatically, whether she is at home or away."
Fact#2: Polite behavior will help your child's social development. Kids who aren't taught social graces from an early age are at a distinct disadvantage, say experts. An ill-mannered child is a turn-off to adults and kids alike; while children aren't likely to be offended by a playmate who neglects to say "excuse me," they don't relish the company of a child who doesn't know how to share or take turns. "You wouldn't send a child off to preschool without a healthy snack, Sending her into the world without knowing social graces is equally problematic.
Fact#3: Learning manners is a lifelong education. It won't happen overnight, and you need to take it slowly, Introducing one new social skill a month -- teaching your 2-year-old to say "hello" when another person addresses him, for example, and rewarding him with praise when he does so -- makes the process manageable for everyone.
Fact#4: Your behavior counts. "That means that when you ask your partner to pass the salt, you do it with a 'please' and a 'thank you’.
Fact#5: Consistency is important. Acquiring good manners takes lots of practice and reinforcement, so make sure that you, your partner, and your caregiver are encouraging (and discouraging) the same behaviors.make sure that you are on the same page.
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