Teaching good manners and etiquette to their child is something all parents aim at. The earlier you begin, the easier it gets as the child grows older. Good manners not just reflect your personality but portray one’s upbringing and help you stay grounded. Besides, it helps your child to adapt well in a diverse group of people. If you are struggling as a parent to teach manners to your children, we have some easy tips for you.
Parents are the first teachers for their kids. So, be their role model. Be gentle, kind, generous and courteous to teach them the same. Your tiny tot possesses most of your traits and tries to imitate you.
You need to spend quality time with your kids. So, start slowly and make small beginnings. Don’t expect to make them learn something for which they are not ready. Over-training might hamper their mental growth.
“Thank you” and “Sorry” might sound cliched, but they are magical words. A child using such words reflects kindness and etiquette. So, introduce these words at the earliest and train them to say it in the right situations.
Don’t be too harsh on your child while teaching manners to them. Be polite and tone down when teaching them good etiquette. Your harshness might send the wrong message and make the child resistant to what you’re trying to teach. It might also put the child on the defensive and make them aggressive.
Learning manners is not something that can be accomplished in a day. It’s a huge task and something that continues as we get older. We are never too old to learn manners. So, don’t expect perfection from your kid at a very tender age. Let them learn it naturally.
You need to play your part in building up good manners and habits in your child. Stay consistent as kids are always watching you! Be consistent in your approach and let them learn by observing, when you talk to them, your partner, even the household help. Don’t lose your cool during arguments either, but deal with the issue firmly and politely.
When your child starts learning the words like thank you and sorry, and tries to use them, you must reward them. This will encourage them to use it often and whenever required.
As a parent, teaching manners and etiquette to your child should be your priority. Make sure you do it right.