One of the most challenging, yet very important roles of parents is teaching children manners. As a child grows up, they need to learn some basic etiquette. This will help them interact appropriately with other members of society as well as behave in a socially acceptable manner when confronted with various situations. Apart from parents, teachers and religious leaders are also in a strategic position to ensure that children adopt good mannerisms.
The importance of parents being a good role model to a child cannot be overemphasized. Psychologists have established that children are more likely to copy what their parents are doing rather than listen to instructions issued to them. For instance, parents who want their children to be polite in the manner in which they talk have to start by being polite themselves. This applies to almost all the forms of manners.
The family of today is faced with, among many other challenges, limited interaction between a child and their parents. This is mainly attributable to a tight schedule that requires both parents to work most of the time. As a result, the child seldom gets counsel from the parent regarding the adoption of acceptable behavior. Parents need to create time if they wish to bring up their children in a disciplined way.
A child should be taught to respect their seniors as early as possible. While there are a number of cultural differences throughout the world, several codes of behavior apply universally. A child should know how to properly greet a person older than them. Respect should be shown during a conversation with such a person. They should be taught that one must wait for their turn to speak, rather than interrupt another person, particularly their seniors.
The importance of remaining courteous at all times should be emphasized. Courteous people are pleasant to deal with and are rarely involved in unnecessary conflicts as they often find amicable solutions to problems. The child should be taught to be courteous in everything they do as they grow up. They should be told to be polite in the way they request for things and how to apologize when they are in the wrong. Failure to be courteous should be followed by some form of punishment as a way of reinforcing positive behavior.
Another important area is that of table manners. These set of behaviors also vary amongst cultures and also from one family to another. There are a number which are more or less universal and these should be inculcated into the child early enough. For instance, they should know how to wait for food patiently. They should also know how to request for items on the table and how to excuse themselves. Some communities may pray before or after meals. If such a practice exists, it should be taught.
Another area that is of concern to parents is that of personal hygiene. A child should be properly trained on how to maintain their cleanliness. Responsible parenting involves letting the child learn to do most things by themselves. This includes, among others, taking a bath or shower and taking care of laundry. Once they have known how to maintain personal cleanliness, they can be told on the importance of having a clean environment as well.
Teaching children manners is not an event that comes and goes. Rather, it is a continuous process that often requires one to repeat certain instructions to a child before the desired set of behaviors is reinforced. While this is the primary responsibility of parents, any responsible adult should make it their obligation to train growing children into responsible citizens.
The importance of parents being a good role model to a child cannot be overemphasized. Psychologists have established that children are more likely to copy what their parents are doing rather than listen to instructions issued to them. For instance, parents who want their children to be polite in the manner in which they talk have to start by being polite themselves. This applies to almost all the forms of manners.
The family of today is faced with, among many other challenges, limited interaction between a child and their parents. This is mainly attributable to a tight schedule that requires both parents to work most of the time. As a result, the child seldom gets counsel from the parent regarding the adoption of acceptable behavior. Parents need to create time if they wish to bring up their children in a disciplined way.
A child should be taught to respect their seniors as early as possible. While there are a number of cultural differences throughout the world, several codes of behavior apply universally. A child should know how to properly greet a person older than them. Respect should be shown during a conversation with such a person. They should be taught that one must wait for their turn to speak, rather than interrupt another person, particularly their seniors.
The importance of remaining courteous at all times should be emphasized. Courteous people are pleasant to deal with and are rarely involved in unnecessary conflicts as they often find amicable solutions to problems. The child should be taught to be courteous in everything they do as they grow up. They should be told to be polite in the way they request for things and how to apologize when they are in the wrong. Failure to be courteous should be followed by some form of punishment as a way of reinforcing positive behavior.
Another important area is that of table manners. These set of behaviors also vary amongst cultures and also from one family to another. There are a number which are more or less universal and these should be inculcated into the child early enough. For instance, they should know how to wait for food patiently. They should also know how to request for items on the table and how to excuse themselves. Some communities may pray before or after meals. If such a practice exists, it should be taught.
Another area that is of concern to parents is that of personal hygiene. A child should be properly trained on how to maintain their cleanliness. Responsible parenting involves letting the child learn to do most things by themselves. This includes, among others, taking a bath or shower and taking care of laundry. Once they have known how to maintain personal cleanliness, they can be told on the importance of having a clean environment as well.
Teaching children manners is not an event that comes and goes. Rather, it is a continuous process that often requires one to repeat certain instructions to a child before the desired set of behaviors is reinforced. While this is the primary responsibility of parents, any responsible adult should make it their obligation to train growing children into responsible citizens.
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