teaching manners to little ones
Posted on
October 10, 2007 by
dc
As social beings, children learn by doing, says child development theorist John Dewey. From birth onward, children are constantly picking up emotional and behavioral cues from the people around them - parents, siblings, caregivers, etc. However, it is not enough to simply tell children what to do and say; showing them by example counts most.
Here is a sample scenario to check the right way to react to everyday situations in order to train your kids toward good etiquette.
It's dinnertime. You, your husband, and your two-year-old son are having dinner. You son orders, "Mom, pass the salt." You:
a. Give an elaborate speech on politeness
b. Hand over the bowl of rice and curtly say, "Here." That should signal that he did something wrong.
c. Respond with, "Sure. But only if you say 'Please, pass the salt.'"
What should the answer be?
By the age of two, kids begin to form simple phrases, looking for ways to apply them. By teaching toddlers to say, "Please," "Thank you," and "You're welcome," you ultimately teach them how to show respect and gratitude. These are short but well-meaning words apt for your tot's early vocabulary.
At this stage, kids focus more on imitating the behavior of adults and older children. When kids see you respond to others with warm
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