Welcome to MyYoungChild.org...
Stories
- Cory Learns to Tell the Truth
- Sharing with Friends
- Gilbert the Goat Learns Respect
- Silly Lilly Remembers her Manners
- A Tree Grows: a Story about Patience, Self-esteem and Diversity
- Rosa the Rabbit Learns to be Fair
- Rosa the Rabbit Takes Responsibility
- Ramon Sticks up for Himself: A Story about Bullying
Silly Lilly Remembers
Her Manners
From the earliest years, let your children know that good manners not only earn them respect but that using the “magic words” often means you get what you want more quickly.
Two and three year olds
A two or three year old is not really able to
understand what manners really mean, but they can be taught to always
say please, thank you, hello, good-bye and sorry as they ask for and
do things.
What you can do
It’s never too early to teach manners. Be sure
to reinforce children’s understanding that words like please, thank
you and sorry really do have a kind of magic in making others more willing
to give you what you want.
Four and five year olds
By the time children are four and five years
old, they can begin to learn conventional phrases such as “May I go
play now?” or “Could you please pass me the cheese?”
What you can do
Four and five year olds may need reminders about
using the “magic words” but at this age you should be discussing the
relationship between manners and showing respect. Continue to point out
that using good manners often makes it easier and quicker to get or do
what you want. At this stage, good manners should be an expectation that
is clearly communicated to your children, and taught in a consistent
manner. Be careful that you are providing a good model; you should help
your child send thank you notes to grandparents for example.
Six and seven year olds
Six and seven year olds also need reminders about
manners, but they should have an understanding
of when manners are important and why to use them.
What you can do
By this age, children are able to see that showing
respect for others extends into helpful behavior, such as clearing the
table after dinner, setting the table, etc. You can talk about how some
aspects of manners such as table manners may vary some and that expectations
for certain routines of behavior including loudness or dress may vary
from one setting to another.