Raising Well-Mannered Kids

Teaching Children Proper Manners

We all want our kids to be respectful and well-mannered. Not only do a child’s good manners reflect well on you, they’re also essential to the child’s success later in life. Unfortunately, kids are not born knowing when to say “please” and “thank you.” In fact, there’s a lot of rude behavior out there in the media and in everyday life that can give kids the wrong idea about what good manners are. So what can you do to teach your kids politeness and proper manners?

Model Behavior

Modeling polite behavior for your kids, even when they’re babies, is one of the most effective ways to teach them. When your little ones are just beginning to talk, make sure they hear every “please”, “thank you”, and “excuse me” that comes out of your mouth. They will pick up on these phrases and it will become second nature to them, even before they fully understand the concepts behind these words.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice politeness with your child. Take the example of asking a store clerk for something behind the counter: act out the scene with your child at home, then let them try it at a store. This will encourage them to be deliberate in the way they address others. When they successfully make their request in a polite manner, let your child know you’re proud.

Teaching Children Proper Manners

The way your child addresses others is of the utmost importance. Studies routinely find that people are more likely to feel positively about you if you address them by their name. It’s a great habit for your child to get into. They won’t know the name of everyone they meet, so teach your child about using appropriate titles like “Sir” or “Ma’am.” If you’re unsure about which term to use when, don’t worry: there’s plenty of room for debate. You can take this approach to all the manners rules you teach; manners are fluid, and as society evolves, so do they. But for a helpful list of what manners to make sure kids learn, we found this helpful.     

Treating others respectfully is something everyone continues to practice and improve upon for their entire lives. Once your child has a base for understanding the importance of good manners, they can start on this lifelong journey. Without a doubt, their progress will make you proud.