Teaching Your Child Manners

lba-admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 14:25:25 +0000

lba-admin Fri, 04/06/2018 - 10:25

Teaching your child good manners is more than just instructing them to say "please" and "thank you". A good rule of thumb is to always lead by example, you may be surprised by how well your toddler models your behaviors! When teaching your toddler what good manners are, keep these few useful hints in mind to help you help them to become a polite and well-mannered child.

Please and Thank You. It is important to demonstrate that we are grateful of others efforts. If your child understands why they should be polite, they will most likely take the time to actually be polite. This is the reason for saying "please" and "thank you", not because it is the "rules", but because we are appreciative. If your child forgets these manners, remind them with "what do you say?" or "what's the magic word?"

Hello and Goodbye. Always encourage your child to be polite and say "hello" or "goodbye". Start with something simple like, "Tommy, say hello to Mrs. Parker". If your child is shy or confused at first, try suggesting a wave instead - but only if they feel comfortable. This same greeting can be used when teaching "goodbye". Salutations are important to teach your child at an early age, as this will pave the way for more advanced greetings, vocabulary and sentences.

Sharing. Teaching your little one to share will help them develop good social skills, be more confident and get along well with other children, especially in a classroom environment. If your child is having trouble sharing, enforce a time limit. Have your little one set a timer so they can see and hear when their play time is over, let them play with a toy for five minutes, then explain to them that it is now your turn and you play with the same toy for five minutes, vice versa.

Reward Systems. Create a reward system, such as a sticker chart, for any manners you are trying to instill. Every time your child uses proper etiquette, salutations or does an excellent job sharing their favorite toy, praise them and give a sticker or a star for them to put on their chart. When your child receives a certain amount of stars, reward them with something fun that they enjoy, like an extra 15 minutes of play, as this will help to encourage your child to remember to be polite.

Make sure to acknowledge your child's efforts when they start to get the hang of saying "please" and "thank you" or waving hello to their teacher in the mornings and goodbye in the evenings. Praise is often the best motivator - give enthusiastic approval with hugs, kisses and claps too! Like learning anything new, being polite and having good manners can be hard for your little one to grasp. They will sometimes forget the 'magic words', so just be clear, consistent and always explain why it is important we be polite.

Retaining good manners is a lifelong process - so take the time to help your little ones learn the skills that will allow them to exude self-confidence and be more regarded to their peers and adults alike.

Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

lba-admin — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:56:42 +0000

Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

lba-admin Fri, 08/02/2013 - 13:56

Naturally, as a parent, you want to instill a can-do attitude in your kids. Self-esteem is your child's passport to a lifetime of social happiness and well-being. And building self-confidence can begin at an early age. When babies learn to turn pages in a book or toddlers learn to walk, they gain an "I can do it" attitude. As they grow and develop new skills, their confidence grows along with them.

Encourage children to bravely take on fresh challenges and believe in themselves by following these easy tips:

Let your child make mistakes
Letting you child make their own choices means they will make some mistakes. But as long as you are there to boost their spirits so they keep trying, they will learn a valuable lesson and will boost their confidence.

Explore new activities
The more your child tries novel activities or visits unfamiliar places, the more likely they are to feel secure stepping out of their comfort zone. Encourage your child to explore something new - maybe trying a different food, making a new friend, flying a kite or riding a bike. Having the confidence to try something new and take risks will build self-esteem.

Give unconditional love
Accept your child for who they are, regardless of their strengths, abilities or temperament. A child's self-esteem flourishes when they you say, "I love you, no matter who you are or what you do."

Celebrate the positive
Make an effort to acknowledge your child's accomplishments. Commending them when they do well builds self-confidence, but be careful - smothering them with praise or bribing them with rewards can backfire and have them seeking approval and credit all of the time. Sincere and genuine praise should focus on their efforts, not the outcome. Simple words of support will boost their self-confidence and foster a sense of pride in all they do.