What better time for young children
to practice good manners than the summertime vacation
from pre-school and elementary school? This is
really the perfect time to work on good manners
in the home. Children always learn best when they’re
having fun -- and manners can actually be fun when
rewards for saying “please,” “thank
you,” and “excuse me” are made
a game for the entire family. Children as early
as age two can be taught to say the “magic
words” in order to receive rewards such as
stickers, stars, or special summertime treats.
And with the usual summer travel to new places,
meeting new people and visiting family, this is
also the right time to learn ‘greeting’ manners.
Children often get shy around their parents’ friends,
and knowing the right thing to do puts children
at ease around grownups. Part of this is to stand
tall, look the person in the eye with a smile on
your face, offer your right hand, and give a firm
handshake. Very often all the kids have to say
is “hi” or “hello.”
Meals are another family activity that can benefit
from the free time of summer vacation. Without
busy schedules of school and extracurricular activities
making the days so hectic, breakfast, lunch or
dinner in the summer are the perfect opportunities
to concentrate on manners at the table and getting
everyone together to share a meal. The slower pace
of summer is ideal, often outside at a picnic table,
to catch up on the family’s activities.
HHH Archives:
1 - Summertime is Good Manners
Time
2 - Grandparents Are The Greatest
3 - Let’s be Gracious
at Grandma’s
