Old school manners children should know

It seems as if saying please and thank you does not even scratch the surface of "old-school" manners children should know and use that would set them ahead of their peers. Parents must constantly practice manners at home, and set a good example for them, as children are great at mimicking actions. However, it is also prudent that parents have age-appropriate expectations of their children because kids are only capable of learning and doing certain things at each stage of life, even if they do amaze you sometimes. Positive reinforcement often works better on little people than threats and rewards do.

Phones Off

Knowing when to turn off your phone is as important as knowing when one needs to be reachable. Places like movie theatres, places of worship, birthday parties, and family dinners are all times when one displays good manners by being wholly present at the moment.

You're Welcome

Saying thank you is a great start but what is a really underrated gesture is acknowledging a thank you with grace. Instead of brushing off a heartfelt thanks with a brusque "no problem" or a casual "sure", teach kids to say "you are always welcome" or "my pleasure" with a smile.

Acts of Consideration

Holding doors for the next person to pass, holding out chairs at dinner, picking up dropped items, or letting someone go first in a line are small acts of kindness that make the world run smoothly. Teach things children can do for adults without it being too taxing on them and without forcing them to interact with strangers if they are uncomfortable.

Thanking Service Workers

Saying thank you to those who serve them, such as waiters at a restaurant, store clerks, Uber drivers, house help, janitors, etc. is a very valuable habit to learn as it allows children to recognise the value these people add to their lives in unspoken ways.

Waiting to Eat

Whether one is at a restaurant or at a family event, it is courteous to wait until everyone is seated and has been served before starting to eat. Many feel that children should be allowed to eat right away but it does not hurt to wait a few minutes for everyone to begin together, if they are not super hungry that is.

Making Polite Observations

Children are blunt and frank to a fault. While that is developmentally appropriate behaviour, children are learning about the world 24/7 and it is important to teach them that their words carry an impact and can hurt people if used unwisely, even if innocently uttered. Unless it is a compliment, commenting on someone's appearance should be off-limits.