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How can I make sure my child remembers his manners?

Have you ever noticed how everyone seems impressed with children who say please and thank you, and are generally polite? You may be wondering how those parents get it right, but the good news is that there are a few simple ways to ensure that your child is polite – at least most of the time!

Manners are taught by example, so if you’re always forgetting yours, then the best approach is to make sure you always say please and thank you, and great people when they arrive and leave. Telling your child to remember to say please, or to get up when someone enters the room to say hello won’t carry much weight if you don’t do it yourself.

Make sure that you make a point of greeting other members of your family when they arrive home, and that you say good bye. Ask how their day went, and always remember to say please when asking anyone – including your child – to do something, and thank them when they do.

Saying sorry is another big thing when it comes to politeness. You want your child to understand what sorry means, so don’t over use it. When you do apologise, be specific and sincere.

Teaching your child to empathise, and that being polite is a good way to get good reactions from people, will go a long way towards ensuring that they remember their manners.

Of course, your child’s manners will also depend on his or her age – most children can remember to say please from fairly early on, but some will only remember to say thank you from four years or older. Patience, and consistency, will ensure that your child grows up well mannered and polite.

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