Minding Your Child’s Manners
When it comes to manners, it’s good to start young. You will find that it really pays off in the long run.
Begin with basic, courteous phrases. While you may be used to terms such as ‘please’ or ‘thank you’, these are very new for your child. Be patient as it may take a while for her to learn them.
Good manners include body language too. Look into her eyes and speak with a polite tone when you ask her to do something for you, and always thank her when she complies.
Always remember that children do as you do, not just do as you say. Your child is always observing your actions and words, even if you aren’t aware of it. To impart good manners, you’ll have to demonstrate it.
Many parents tend to scold their children when they fail to comply. You can prompt her gently when she forgets and give lavish praises when she remembers. Getting upset may cause her to resist learning.
A final point to note is consistency. Once she is used to saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, encourage her to do so with people other than yourself. With constant, positive reinforcement, good manners will be ingrained into her personality.
