Want to start teaching your child important manners so you can make sure they grow up to be respectful adults? Not sure where to even start? Well here are some tips on how to teach manners for preschoolers.
Toddlers and preschoolers are adorable and the things they say can be super funny and cute.
But what if your child starts getting demanding and rude?
Well, they probably need a little help learning some manners. And minding their manners will be super important as they go through school!
The most nerve-wracking thing for most parents is preschoolers (or truly any age kid) that lack simple manners. You know, the usual ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’ type manners that even some adults forget to use.
This is how to avoid having your child grow up to be one of those adults.
These little hacks are good ways to teach your child manners and learn to use them daily. Whether that is in public, a friend’s house, grandma’s house, school, or even just at home.
Learning basic manners for preschoolers will help them grow into respectful adults.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
The best and possibly easiest way to teach manners to your toddler or preschooler is to lead by example.
Kids learn how to behave by watching how their parents behave.
Ever heard your toddler repeat something you have said yourself? Or watched something your preschooler does that is exactly how you would react or do that task yourself?
That is because they are always watching. They learn by sight and seeing what you are modelling for how they should be behaving.
So, take that natural behavior of toddlers and preschoolers and use it to your advantage.
SHOW THEM how to use their manners.
If you say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’ on the daily (even when speaking to them) then they are more likely to mimic that behavior as well.
Some good basic manners for preschoolers to practice:
– Saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
– Asking to borrow a toy
– Asking for a turn
– Saying ‘excuse me’
– Asking ‘Can I help you?’
– Saying ‘nice to meet you’
Use good manners around your kids and when you’re communicating with them. Leading by example will show them how to treat others.
REMINDING THEM
Once you start to tell your preschooler or toddler to use manners, you must be consistent and repeat the behavior.
This may require reminding them constantly to say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’ on the daily. This may make you insane and add to a bit of stress levels, but remember instilling these manners now, will pay off later.
Reminding them on the positive behavior will drill it into their mind and it will eventually become second nature to them.
Now you do not need to get overwhelmed with this part, it will be exhausting to constantly remind them, but that is how they will learn and eventually you will not need to do the reminding.
What a great feeling!
WATCH GOOD BEHAVIOR SHOWS
Us parents cannot do it all. We try, but sometimes we just need that added bit of help to get through to our kids.
When I started teaching my preschooler and toddler manners, I would show them positive behavior shows. Shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, which demonstrate manners and positive behavior.
They even have catchy songs that kids love to remind them on using manners and polite things to say.
So, I would take those songs and tips I learned from the show as a parent and use them on my kids daily until manners for them became second nature. (Do not worry, I do still have to remind them too just not nearly as often in the beginning)!
Using educational programming is a great tool for us parents to step outside the box and learn some new tips and tricks to help with parenthood.
PRAISE THE RESULTS
Once your child uses those manners, praise them like they just won the Olympics! Give them so much praise that you feel silly.
Praise them every single time too!
Because children thrive on the positive reinforcement and the praise from their parents. They will love the attention and therefore continue to do what they got the praise for over and over again!
Kids thrive on praise and attention. They want you to be proud of them. They want that acknowledgement that they are doing a good deed!
REWARD CHARTS
Charts are a great way for your visual learned to see the actions and requests of them. They can visually see that they are doing a good job and if they need some more work.
Set up a reward chart for manners if your child thrives on visually seeing the results and accomplishments. Or even if they are still young and need that representation visually.
Kids love stickers and rewards, so you can give them a sticker on the chart every time they use manners without being prompted and once they hit a certain amount (that you choose ahead of time with them) then they get a special treat, toy, or whatever you choose as the reward.
This can help the young toddlers and preschoolers feel that there is a point to using manners. Rewarding good behavior will prompt them to keep using it and eventually become second nature.
REMEMBER TO BREATHE, IT TAKES TIME MAMA
Manners for preschoolers and toddlers will not happen overnight, or even after a few days. It will take time, repetition, and consistency to get those manners down.
They are young, they are still figuring out life and how to behave so be easy and gentle with them and it will click eventually!
If you are calm while teaching and modelling the behavior you are expecting, then they will be calm and more responsive to learning.
Teaching manners for preschoolers can be daunting and exhausting but try these tips and your preschooler or toddler will be using manners in no time!
Just remember, consistency is key!
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This guest post was written by our friend and fellow mama, Amelia Zamora,
mom blogger over at Mama Bear Reviews!
