Image by: Steven Depolo

Manner Planner!

Category
social
Age Range
3-5 yrs
Setup Time
No set-up time!
Setup Location
Indoor / Outdoor

At the heart of good manners is a respect for oneself and others. Good manners convey a sense of respect for the sensibilities of other people. When you say “thank you,” you’re taking the time to make the other person feel appreciated. Saying “please” respects a person’s right not to do what you’ve asked (it’s not so demanding with a “please” attached).

Good manners also show that a child listens to his parents and does what he is taught – these are good character traits that teachers and other authority figures appreciate. Manners convey quite a bit of information!

The key thing to remember however is that the child is more likely to do what you do, not what you say! Therefore, the best way to encourage your child to behave a certain way is to behave that way yourself!

Steps:

  1. List out social manners that you want your child to learn

  2. Model the listed behavior with him and his ‘friends’ at the park

  3. Discuss the behaviors that were not 'ideal' and explain why

Disclaimer: This presents an overview of child development. It is important to keep in mind that the time frames presented are averages and some children may achieve various developmental milestones earlier or later than the average but still be within the normal range of development. This information is presented to help parents understand, at a high level, what to expect from their child. Any questions/concerns you may have about your child’s development should be shared with your doctor.