Good Manners Every Child Should Learn

Manners are an important part of raising well-behaved, considerate children. Learning good manners early, such as using thank you letter templates to write to relatives, helps children succeed socially and professionally, and while it might seem outdated to teach children manners, it will set them up in later life and ensure people regard them as polite members of society. And best of all, good manners cost nothing!

Here are some essential manners every child should learn.

Say Please and Thank You

Two of the most basic manners children should learn are saying “please” and “thank you.” Using please when asking for something shows respect and patience. Thank you expresses gratitude. Make sure children use these words often from a young age. Remind them to say please when asking for food or toys. Thank you should follow when receiving items and favors. These simple words go a long way in social interactions.

Greet Others

Teach children how to greet others appropriately based on the setting. Saying a friendly “good morning” or “hello” when meeting someone teaches basic manners. Make sure your child looks the person in the eyes, smiles, and uses a clear voice. They should also be able to introduce themselves and family members politely when meeting new people. Shaking hands firmly is also an important greeting gesture to practice.

Use Proper Table Manners

Mealtimes present many opportunities to use good manners. Children should know how to set the table properly with napkins, utensils, and glasses. They should wait until everyone is served to begin eating. Using “please” and “thank you” at mealtimes applies to passing food and requesting items out of reach. Make sure kids don’t reach across others or talk with their mouths full. Having them keep hands in their lap when not using utensils also promotes good table manners. And remind them to treat serving staff with respect, too.

Listen without Interrupting

Learning to listen without interrupting is an important social skill. Children should make eye contact when others are speaking to them. Nodding along and giving verbal affirmations like “Okay” or “I see” demonstrates active listening. Teach kids to wait until the speaker finishes before asking questions or making comments of their own. This shows respect.

Write Thank You Notes

Sending thank you notes teaches thoughtfulness. Have children write cards or notes to show gratitude when receiving gifts, kind acts, and hospitality. Notes should mention the specific gift or kind act and express how much it meant to them. Mail or deliver these within two weeks of the event. Regularly practicing writing notes of appreciation will help instil consideration.

Be Respectful in Public

Manners in public settings help kids become courteous citizens. Children should hold doors open for others and allow adults to go first in lines and entryways. Keeping voices low in enclosed spaces like public transport, shops, and restaurants demonstrates awareness. Standing to let elderly or disabled people take seats shows respect. Making way for other people passing by on footpaths teaches considerate habits. Saying “excuse me” when needing to move around others or accidentally bumping into someone also promotes respect.

Ask Permission

Asking for permission is an important habit. Whether at a friend’s house or in public spaces, children should get in the habit of asking for permission. They should ask before using other people’s things. Saying “May I please…” when wanting to touch something that doesn’t belong to them shows respect and self-control. Kids should also ask before doing things like picking flowers, climbing a tree, or using playground equipment.

Mind Your Manners Online

In the digital age, minding manners online is essential. Set expectations around polite online communication. Children should not type in all caps, which can seem angry. Advise them to reread messages and social media posts before sending to check for unintended offense or confusion. Using please, thank you, and basic greetings in digital messages promotes manners. Respectful disagreement and avoiding aggressive arguments are also important lessons.

Say Excuse Me

Learning to say “excuse me” shows awareness and respect for others’ space. Teach kids to say “excuse me” when needing to interrupt conversations or walk through groups. Coughing, sneezing, or burping should also be followed by “excuse me.” Apologising for accidental bumps or stepping on toes is good habit. Even if the action wasn’t purposeful, saying “excuse me” acknowledges the effect on others. This basic courtesy goes far in social interactions.

Mastering these essential manners while young helps ensure kids grow into polite, gracious adults. Consistent guidance and modelling polite habits are key. With regular practice of kind, considerate behaviour, these manners will become second nature.