10 Key Etiquette You Can Teach Your Kids

Introduction

Most children act on impulse, not knowing whether or not it’s good for them.  Also, most parents want their children to know how to behave, but are not sure where to begin. There are several ways how you can be teaching etiquette to kids, most importantly, by setting an example on your own and staying consistent.

Etiquette should be taught at a very early age because once bad habits are formed, it’s difficult to unlearn. As parents, you should realize that they become their children’s role models from the time their child is born.

If the parents are patient and gentle with everyone, the children will be too, and when the parents have good table manners, the children will also learn table manners. The best way of teaching etiquette to kids is to practice it in their presence and ensure they learn from you every day. Remember, table manners for kids are essential. They can practice these etiquettes in their best CBSE schools in Mumbai.

How do I teach my baby manners?

Teaching etiquette for kids, you must start with the very basic. And yes, like everything else in life, it should start from your home. The right age to start basic etiquette is between 3 and 4 years. Start with age-appropriate etiquette and slowly move to other rules that you think are good for your child. Don’t overwhelm with rules for which they are not ready yet.

Good etiquette never goes out of style and it is important for you to introduce good manners for kids. It’s one habit that stays for the lifetime and people that follow these are seen with awe. When you think that your child has successfully accomplished basic good manners and now is old enough to be given a new set of etiquette rules, let them know. Also, tell them how proud you are seeing them well behaved and well mannered all this while.

Here are some basic etiquettes that you can teach your child starting now. There’s no age limit and no time limit as to when you can teach your child.

10 Basic Etiquette for Kids

Greet by name

Greeting anyone is considered a sign of respect and it also means the person is valued. Teach your children to greet children their age by name or ask if they don’t know. Elders should be called either uncle or aunty, as this is how elders are addressed in India. In India give respect is one of the vital aspects when we talk about good manners for kids.

Always talk by looking in the eye

This is another basic etiquette for kids that you need to teach them. Tell them that looking into the eye of people—children and adults—is good etiquette. You should also teach them to keep the eye contact intact and not get distracted as this would send out a wrong signal to the person with whom your child is talking. It goes without saying that looking into someone’s eye is the simplest yet effective way to connect with people.

Positive comments

Teach your child to add positive comments like “It’s nice to meet you,” “Have a good day,” ”Happy to meet you,” “Thanks for having me here,” Have a great day,” every time they meet someone. Adding positive comments at the beginning itself is important and goes on to show the value your child attaches to the person he/she is speaking to. Whether it’s a Diwali party or even a family gettogether when your child says something like “Thank you for having me,” “Thank you for inviting me,” it shows gratitude and something that will remain for lie with your child.
All these are small comments but make a big statement when it comes to etiquette and manners.

Active listening

People appreciate those who listen. Tell your child that listening is an etiquette that will take them places. Active listeners always leave a meaningful impact on the people around them. It’s a very simple etiquette, but something that will leave a lasting impression. Teach them to listen first and talk later.

Table manners

Children are always fussy eaters and they will always create a mess wherever they eat. Well, it’s not their fault, just that they are learning to eat. You need to teach them the table manners such as not to overload their plate, take only as much as they need, not to leave food behind in plates, hold spoon right or ensure the food doesn’t drip on their clothes when eating with hands. You can also teach them how to use cutlery so that they can hold it right.

The table manners cover a large part of how the kid will behave in a party or a social gathering.

Not to stare at anything or anyone

Well, this is something most children do, most of the time unintentionally. While there’s no hard in staring at something interesting, there are people that might take offence and raise an objection. Children wouldn’t know what is good or bad staring. So it’s always good that you teach them to not stare at anything or any person.

Please, Thank You

This is one of the easiest and most basic etiquettes you can teach them.

1. ‘Please’ when asking for something.
2. ‘Thank you’ when receiving something.
3. ‘Excuse me’ when asking for something or entering an open room.
4. ‘Knock’ on the door before entering.

Keep to their opinion

Teach your child that if they have any negative opinion about anyone or anything, they must keep it to themselves or between friends. The world in particular and adults specifically are not interested in their opinion. Tell them not to comment on people’s food habits, appearance, and color. If they do, tell them that this is the age to study and not comment on people’s physical characteristics.

Be appreciative

Tell them to be appreciative of everything and everyone. They can keep their opinions to themselves. You must also tell them to not use foul language in front of adults. There are possibilities that the child might learn bad words in their international school due to certain students but you must tell them in clear words that it’s not acceptable at home and certainly not in front of the adults.

Cover mouth

Children must be taught to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Also, teach them not to pick nose in public as it’s not just gross, but also reflect badly on their raising.

There are other etiquettes for kids that you can teach them like:

1. Not to speak badly about food when eating lunch or dinner at a host’s house
2. Not to reach for anything on without reach. Ask adults in the house to give it.
3. Not to gossip about anyone.
4. Find the rightful owner of lost property or give it to the adult in the home for safe custody.
5. Showing respect to elders inside and outside the home.
6. Not to spit, intentionally burping or breaking wind, throwing things away in anger, or interrupting. 

Conclusion

In order to grow as responsible adults, etiquette for kids are essential. Teaching etiquette to kids will carry over into adulthood and help make them into successful friends, family persons, and professionals. All the hard work and effort that you have put now into teaching your children basic etiquette’s will give him skills to handle himself in a civilized world.Teaching etiquette is about guiding others on respectful behavior, kindness, and proper social interactions.

Your child will make a few etiquette mistakes every now and then and your job is to correct those mistakes and move on. You must give your child the freedom to follow up on etiquette learning and grow with them.

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