How to Teach a Kid the Right Etiquette

It won’t be wrong to say that your kids mirror the values you have! Don’t you agree? We ourselves pass comments like “look at the boy, he is so wild. Can’t his parents teach him some manners? Or see that girl; she is polite, just like her mom.” Hence, it is self-explanatory! No parent wants to be branded as irresponsible, right?

Well, I had a recent case, where the mother had to face a lot of social ridicule and embarrassment because of her 9 year old son.

It was during one of the parties hosted by a common friend, where this lady came with her son. Though there were other kids of same age as this boy, but he was creating mess throughout. From throwing tantrums to being rude to his mother, he created all sorts of discomfiture for his mom. 

Looking at this, I advised her to get her son to me next day ,for counseling.

On my query, I got to understand that this lady was a single mom. For past four years she was living with her son and just to fill the absence in his life due to her long working hours, she had spoiled him by providing whatever he demanded. This, somehow had become a cause of concern, as the boy turned disobedient.

Researches prove that children can show signs of empathy and concern from a very early age.  It means parents have the power to nurture, guide and instill skills like kindness, responsibility and gentleness in their offspring. Equally important is to teach them social skills.  Manners need to be taught as they are ‘lifelong survival skills’. Since, between the ages of 2 and 5, child is most receptive to learning the rules of polite conduct, this boy was exposed to a wrong example. To groom her child with right etiquette, I involved the mother too. As children learn through imitation; she just had to set good examples. With my help, she made him realize what is right and what is not. She made him read the messages sent by his school principal for his ill-behavior and the warning notice. I made her understand that she needs to talk to him and help him perceive the maturity of a grown up boy.

Just two months in the counseling and the same boy got the best social conduct tag at his school.

It is best to mold the character at such a tender age! Mentoring child etiquette is the best way to make him or her, responsible person for tomorrow.

Work on Self. Make a Difference !!