Tips On Teaching Your Children To Be Polite

by David Bruce

Summer attitude from the kids? You're the slave and the couch is their throne? Is the world of electronics at their command more important than you?

"The only things parents should give their kids are values," says Carrie Concha, Director of Brighter Days Montessori School in Rancho Palos Verdes for thirty years. "Let them earn the rest."

Two dozen Los Angeles area principals interviewed last month agreed that students need better manners. In fact, good manners, caring and sharing can make a perfect classroom. Dr. Kevin Baxter, principal of American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach, declares that reinforcing these lessons "is critical for student development and achievement."

But, wait. That's school, and the only ABC's on many kids' minds are CDs, DVDs, E-mail, iPod, MP3, PS2 and TV.

Many do suffer first-day-of-school anxiety. Mark Stubis, vice president of KidsPeace, a 124-year-old national charity that helps children avoid and overcome crises says, "Reinforcing manners is important because the way you start out the year with teachers -- and other kids -- can affect the way people treat you for the rest of the year."

To prepare your kids for school, prepare them for now. Unplug for 5-10 minutes and exercise manners. Practice "please", "thank you" "you're welcome", "excuse me", "I'm sorry" and "may I help you?".

"Practicing manners on a daily basis not only helps your child to be more polite, it also helps to create a more pleasant and happy home," Dr. Baxter states. Help your children imagine your home...

Where pleasing each other is fun Where a "thank you" says, "I'm grateful for you" Where all feel welcome at home Where "excuse me" means "you first" Where "I'm sorry" means "I care" Where helping makes everything easier Praise the smallest good manners and win. John Wooden, former UCLA coach and winner of ten national championships, gave players many more compliments than criticisms. He said, "Most people try to live up to expectations. It always comes back to courtesy, politeness and consideration."

By the time school calls them away, you might not be so eager for your child to go, but they'll be prepared to win new friends at school.

Many schools this fall will be crowning students, who show good manners, with a Manners I. Care(TM) crown as part of Manners I. Care About Schools. This program gives students 5-10 minutes per day of manners lessons, to build as perfect a classroom as possible for students to enjoy learning.

If you would like to crown your child with the same Manners I. Care crown that schools will use, e-mail David at davidbruce@mannersicare.com. The crown makes reinforcing manners fun. David is the author of the children's picture book "Manners I. Care" and developed Manners I. Care About Schools to help children, families and schools make manners fun and effective. Check out www.mannersicare.com, and call 877-Kids-Luv if you would like your school to participate.