Manners and etiquette for children in the Family Home

In the family home - this is where it starts, where the 'manners seed' is planted and nurtured.
This is where your children learn not only good manners, but also core values and ethics.
This is the haven where your children learn to be considerate, tolerant and respectful.
They learn to share and to respect the space of all other family members.
This is the place where your children put into practice the foundation of all the social etiquette they will need to carry them through life.
There are several different styles of parenting, none are perfect! Believe us there is no such thing as a perfect parent. What is important though is that you do have a style or "method of parenting."
Geoff Dodd of Psychology Power asks:
"Do you have a specific style or method of parenting?"
"What parent child relationship experiences are you having?"
"Enlightened parenting styles are renewable! Take some time and re-think now."
If you need a little enlightenment when assessing your parenting skills visit
Let's start with respect. Respecting a person's privacy is very important. In the family home this is one of the most important rules. Parents, teenagers and even the little ones - all deserve a degree of privacy. All deserve utmost respect.
Most of these 'good manners and etiquette for children' pointers below apply to both parents and children - remember you have to 'practice what you preach'.
1. If the door is closed, it is respectful and good manners to knock and wait for permission to enter
2. If you want to borrow something, don't just help yourself, always ask permission and make sure you return whatever it is you borrow. Make sure you return it in the same or better condition
3. Never go looking through another person's private possessions without their permission, that is extremely bad mannered
4. I know it is very tempting to read your sister's diary and love letters, but restrain yourself, that is very private and you wouldn't like someone to do that to you
5. Your family's affairs are private and should be kept that way. If mum and dad have an argument or the business is not doing well, or your brother is not doing well at school, it has nothing to do with outsiders
However, if a family member is being abused in any way, that is different and someone in a position of authority should be told
6. Another rule in the book of manners and etiquette for children is you should not expect anyone to clean up after you. Leave the bathroom, toilet, kitchen and TV room clean and tidy, don't leave your dirty dishes around the house.
Your wet towels or dirty dishes are your responsibility. If you share a bedroom, then share the responsibility of keeping it clean and tidy
7. We'll repeat, practicing the art of good manners and etiquette starts in the home, let your parental guidance follow through to school and the sports field.
For example, if the children are playing a board game at home, the loser needs to learn to accept that in good grace.
If on a sports field, they need to know it is good etiquette to thank the opposing team, shake hands and say, "Well done!"
8. Kids Telephone Etiquette - do NOT underestimate what a strong favorable impression your kid's good telephone manners can have on people phoning your home
9. Good Table Manners and Etiquette for Children should be a way of life
10. Parents, at all times be aware of your own behavior, highlight acts of good manners and etiquette and of course good social behavior
If you send a thank you note to someone, mention it in front of the children, say something like, 'I'm just sending a thank you note to Aunt Maggie, she was so helpful running you children to school last week when I couldn't manage' - that way, showing appreciation is just a normal way to behave and not a lesson in manners and etiquette for children
11. If you are sending flowers in the event of the death in the family, it is a good time to explain Funeral Etiquette to the children.
These 'silent' lessons in manners and etiquette for children have more of a lasting impact when they are seen and experienced. So always strike while the iron is hot, so to speak
12. Try really hard not to embarrass anyone, what may seem humorous and teasing is often very embarrassing, just think how you would feel under the circumstances.
So don't use embarrassment as a lesson in manners and etiquette for children, just put yourself in their position

source by google