8 Important Manners You Should Teach Your Little Ones

We all want to raise our little ones to be polite and well behaved, and learning those lessons starts at home. It's never too early to teach your little ones basic manners! Here are eight of the most important manners you should try to teach your little ones before they go to school. They won't remember them all, or get them right every time, but patience and perseverance should get you through:

1. Always say please and thank you.

Whether they're activities as small as giving your little one a snack, or them asking if they can play in the garden, always reinforce the importance of saying please and thank you. No matter how young your children are, you can't start enforcing this rule too early!

2. Table manners

When your tiny tots are just learning to eat at the table, start teaching them the manners you'd like them to have for the rest of their lives! Rules like not eating with their mouths open, or not putting their elbows on the table, are good life lessons for your children to learn as soon as possible.

3. Play dates

When you're little ones go on play dates, or to birthday parties, remind them to thank their friends parents for having them over. If you aren't going to be attending the play date or event with your little one, ensure your little ones know they should treat their friends parents (and all grown-ups) with the same respect they treat you.

4. Birthday party etiquette

It's often said that kids go wild at birthday parties - all the sweet snacks and fun can make little ones get excited, and sometimes forget their manners. But no matter how excited your little one is on their birthday, there are some manners they shouldn't forget: to open their presents thoughtfully (not ripping off the paper, or tossing the present to one side as soon as they've seen it) and to say thank you for every gift, and to every attendee.

5. Mind the language

There will come a moment every parent dreads: the moment your little one swears. And then finds it funny! The worst thing you can do in this scenario is laugh. Let them know that you already know that word, you think it's unpleasant, not funny, and ask your little one not to use it again!

6. Don't be mean

Kids tease each other, and they find it funny. But this can sometimes go a step too far and lead to bullying. Make sure your little ones don't call others mean names, and don't make fun of anyone for any reason. Ganging up on someone else is cruel, not clever.

7. Excuse me!

Once your little ones have mastered saying please and thank you, teach them to say excuse me. It's the polite thing to say when you have to interrupt someone, or bump into somebody.

8. TMI!

There are some things that are too much information, and that your little ones shouldn't talk about in public! These include genitals, poo, nose picking, and all the other gory things that amuse kids!

P.S.  I would say the vital things everyone should teach our kid. As we say,'What we learn in childhood will last long'. I remember when I studied in Vailankanni, the rules they have executed was awesome that brought a drastic move in my life. As I entered there by 2nd, I started my life in "Kids World". What a name! Ha!.... :-) Its a seperate place where there will be classrooms for LKG to 2nd, in the shape of small huts with small benches and desks painted with all cheerful colours like yellow and orange :-) No bigger classes will be near and no noice around. This world will be closed in three sides and a front open with an arche named "Kids World". In the center of all the small huts, there will be all play things for the kids to play during break and lunch.

I had a fantastic experience there (I can't guarantee that now). They ensure first the students learn discipline and manners and then studies. We have to well behave, they will teach you to show respect to others not because of fear but of character. Second manners, all the things above will be ensured along with equality among boys and girls, they won't treat one higher and will not teach you to scare or fear for the other gender.

During our lunch, everyone should bring lunch, there will be seperate subject teachers who were allocated to check daily by visiting all classes whether everyone has brought their lunch, and this is not only with kids... I started there as a kid so I well used to everything. If someone didn't bring their lunch, they will be sent to the VP where he will ask questions on why we didn't bring it and then he will ask the worker there to get something for us in their canteen.

Along with lunch we have to bring a napkin and a spoon. Every class teacher should sit the class along with the students and take the lunch. No spoon scratching sound should be heard :-) staff will say our name and will say "eat quietly". We should first place our napkin in our lap/desk and then take the food and ensure nothing we drop down. If our napkin was not clean we will get some dose, we should correct it the next day :-)

Its always good to teach children good things than dumping them merely into books. It will make a good society in future.