Children are natural mimics, so it is easy for them to pick up bad manners from their parents, friends, and caretakers. But no matter how many times you have caught your kid picking his nose in public or rudely shoving food into his mouth, manners can be taught and with a little effort, they can stick.
There are many ways to teach kids manners. The easiest way is by example, but kids need more than just watching their parents’ behavior. Parents sometimes forget they are teaching their children more than just the proper fork to use at the dinner table, but that if they try a little harder and make an honest effort to work on teaching manners, they will be setting their children up for success –not only when it comes to table manners but also in life.
Here are some basic tips that will give you back some control of your child’s behavior and help them become more civilized.
The experts agree on the importance of teaching kids manners. Manners ensure they are treated with respect and kindness, which in turn builds their self-confidence. Here are three no-fail suggestions from the manner’s gurus:
- Always Tell Good Stories
Kids will love hearing stories around the dinner table. But you can tell them a few tales that they will want to listen to, remembering to do what you are advising. These fascinating tidbits will stick with them for years to come, helping them remember your advice.
And so, the way you teach your kids to greet people is to tell them an engaging story about when the handshake was invented along with a joke to make it memorable. Sharing stories with kids gives them a deeper understanding of why things happen, and what their role is in whatever situation they are in and helps them feel more confident about themselves and their place in society.
Your kids will feel more comfortable eating what you have cooked if they know the food-eating etiquette rules. The best way to teach kids manners is by example and talking about polite behavior. Avoid sitting kids down to long lectures that they will tune out anyway. Instead, tell stories, that they can remember.
- Put Music into Sound for Better Understanding
Let us face it: kids (particularly boys) love to make noises. And these can be downright embarrassing at times, ranging from loud “bottom burps” to the inevitable “upper burps.” But what a lot of parents do not realize is that learning how to handle these sounds can be the key to helping their children maintain positive social skills (and win over friends). Putting these sounds into song, along with teaching proper manners can help make all the difference in helping kids become popular and successful.
Put It to Music is a fun new way to teach good manners. Learn the lyrics, put your hands in the air, and sing along to this upbeat tune about how important it is to use good table manners at mealtimes.
When you eat, think about how your body uses food for fuel. It helps you think and play sports. And sometimes, it must burp. Just be careful that you do not do it when other people are around.
“Everybody has to put their food in the same room.” This creates a great opportunity to discuss things like why we put our food on the table and how it’s different from other rooms, like the bathroom. When you eat in the dining room, it is called a meal. When you eat in your bedroom and use your bed for playing games or doing homework, it is called “bunking.”
- Host A Rehearsal Dinner before Party
If you are having a rehearsal dinner, or if you just want to host a dinner party in your house without the kids behaving like maniacs, practice at home first. We suggest using real cloth napkins, dishes, and glasses. Put out a tablecloth, sit people around the table in their best clothes, and have the kids behave like little adults even though they are not ones yet. By practicing at home first, then when it is time for the real dinner party at a restaurant it will go smoothly.
You have planned the rehearsal dinner and set the date, picked your location, and booked the band. Now all you must do is keep your guests from embarrassing you with their table manners. Set a few clear dinner-table-manners rules. Some basics include saying “please” and “thank you” when asking others to pass items, chewing with your mouth closed, not talking with your mouth full, and holding utensils like a pencil instead of a shovel. Once everyone follows the rules successfully, pass out your favorite desserts from our most popular restaurants, which all have one thing in common: Great Desserts!
Table manners are not something innate. It is a lot of common sense and paying attention to the people around you. We used to eat with our hands, but we are civilized now. However, the “good china,” as the English would say, is still out on display at quite a few tables when you look around your friends’ homes for dinner parties.
- Teach Polite Behavior
When your child is little, it is easy to overlook teaching them how to be polite. As they get older, their behavior will reflect yours more and more. Teach your child the art of saying please and thank you from a young age so that it becomes second nature when they grow up.
It is easy to slip into a bad habit of not being polite with the people closest to you. Be on guard against this tendency and work to improve your manners at home. Modeling polite behavior is an important part of raising children who know right from wrong. Asking for things politely, appreciating others who are nice to you, and showing gratitude are the basic duties of being polite. Modeling these skills helps children learn how to behave appropriately in social situations.
Model proper behavior by always saying “please” and “thank you.” React to disagreements and frustrations calmly and respectfully. Do not get into bad habits, like raising your voice or getting into intense arguments with others. You should also show respect for the rules and instructions of others, even if you do not agree with them.
Disclaimer: “HealthLink.news does not have any intention to provide specific medical advice, but rather to provide its users and/ or the general public with information to better understand their health. All content (including text, graphics, images, information, etc.) provided herein is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. HealthLink.news makes no representation and assumes no responsibility/ liability for the accuracy of the information, advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided herein or on its website. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IT HERE OR ACCESSED THROUGH THE HealthLink.news WEBSITE.”
