|  By Elizabeth Pantley,
Author of Perfect Parenting and Kid Cooperation
Situation:
When we’re out in public my son seems to forget all the good manners he routinely
uses at home. If we run into someone I know he won’t even say a polite hello.
He forgets to say ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’. The list goes on. How can I get
him to remember to use his manners? Think about it: As
annoying as your child’s lack of manners can be, resist the urge to reprimand
him in front of other people. I’ve seen many parents do this. In a misguided effort
to teach manners, they display some of the worse manners I’ve seen! Teach
them what to do: Many children are not aware of their bad manners
and must be taught not only what not to do, but what to do instead. For
example, if a friend of yours speaks to your child, who looks down at his sneakers
and ignores the comment, it’s typically embarrassment and ignorance on the child’s
part that’s causing the behavior. After the person leaves, make a brief comment
to your child, "Casey, if an adult talks to you, it’s polite to look him in
the eye and say something back. When Mr. Nagamine commented on your new shoes,
you could have said, ‘Thank you, they’re new.’ People like it when you answer
them like that." Correct privately: If your child
is acting in a rude way, lead him away from other people and quietly and briefly
correct him. Give him a smile and a hug to show him that you love him. That way
you can send him back into the situation prepared to change for the better.
Have
clear expectations: In advance of a social situation, brief your child
on what manners will be expected of him. Younger children can benefit from a role-play
at home previewing what they might expect. Give lots of praise:
Praise your child for using good manners. Believe it or not, children often
feel embarrassed when they socialize with adults and use good manners. Since they
have heard adults say things like, "Fine thank you, and you?" they feel
like an impostor when they say it themselves! |
