I recently had a conversation with someone about manners. How young is too young to start instilling manners in children?
I found a website online that described ten benefits of good manners and it really struck a chord with me.
1. Instill confidence. Start at a young age. "We sit in our chair at the dinner table." "Use your napkin." "Say please when asking for something, thank you when it's given."
2. Make the best first impression. Role play situations where your child meets someone for a first time. A new teacher, coach, parent of a friend. Look them in the eye when speaking or spoken to. Answer questions. Think before responding: is what you're going to say appropriate?
3. Open doors to opportunities. Someone who shows respect, uses polite language, responds positively earns additional responsibility. Leaders aren't necessarily the most educated but those who have qualities that others trust.
4. Cultivate a heart for others. Rather than me, me, me a positive outlook is what can I do for others? This often leads to good feelings about yourself. Hold the door for someone. Offer to help carry a package. Something as simple as chewing with your mouth closed shows respect for others enjoying a meal with you at any age.
5. Safeguard against selfishness. Selfishness can ruin relationships and reputations. Think about how looking at how you act or speak affects someone else makes you less selfish. Self-esteem stems in how you feel about others' reaction to you. No one likes to be around someone who's self-centered.
6. Create joy. Happiness is as simple as recognizing you made a difference to someone else. Even though you think it's unrecognized, it is.
7. Inspire reciprocation.
- It’s easy to be nice to others when they’re nice to us.
- We’re more willing to share with others when they share with us.
- When we serve others, they are more likely to serve us at some point.
8. Lay the foundation for success in life. When someone notices not only the good manners, it produces a chain reaction. Respect leads to trust, and trust is at the foundation of every solid relationship—both business and personal.
9. Foster better relationships. What do you see in the people you spend time with? Do you admire them? Respect them? Do they make you feel good about yourself?
10. Make others feel noticed and appreciated. A simple smile or kind word might be the only moment in someone's day where they feel kindness.
Finally, realize that to your child, YOU are the model. Set a good example. Show them what good manners look like by the way you conduct yourself. Share examples of good manners that you notice. Compliment them when they show good manners. Set a situation for them and ask how they would act. Start early and watch them grow!
*Shared in part from Having Good Manners
