How to Teach a Toddler to Have Good Manners
Tips to Raise a Polite Child
Toddlers do not hold back when they have a thought they want to share. That’s why a two year olds will ask people why they’re so fat or demand that they be the only one to play with a toy. Don’t get overwhelmed by a toddler’s lack of manners. Instead, follow the tips below to teaching a young child how to have good manners.
Teach Manners from the Beginning
Begin to teach toddlers good manners after they begin to communicate. Parents can teach their children manners when they’re able to speak, but setting the ground work can begin even earlier.
Set a good example from the beginning. Parents should teach their children manners by modeling the good behavior. This means that parents have to watch themselves when they begin to get angry or impatient with others. Toddlers are constantly looking to their parents for models for behavior. This is the best way to teach a young child good manners.
Consistency is Key
Parents should have a discussion together about the plan to teach their child manners. One parent cannot do this alone if there is more than one parent in the picture. Talk about how the child should be taught manners and which manners are priorities. Consistency is key when trying to teach a young child anything.
Be consistent with the child. If a parent is trying to teach her daughter to say please and thank you, then he should ask the child to say please and thank you each time.
Be patient with toddlers who are learning manners. Toddlers should not be expected to always remember their manners, because developmentally it is not a realistic goal. Sometimes they will remember and sometimes they won’t. Remind the young child gently when he/she forgets.
Concrete Ways to Teach a Toddler Manners
Start teaching a young child manners at the dinner table. When a family sits down to eat dinner together, it can become an educational experience for the toddler. Try to get the toddler to sit at the table without getting up for a set amount of time and increase the amount of time as needed. Make sure the goal is reasonable. Asking a toddler to sit still for fifteen minutes is a lot to ask of a young child.
Encourage a toddler to greet others by saying hello when she sees someone that she knows. Also, parents can teach manners during a play date. When a toddler is playing with another child, sharing becomes an important manner to learn.
Utilize books that teach young children manners. Reading books about manners to toddlers is another way to teach toddlers about manners and what is socially acceptable. Three books that concentrate on teaching toddlers about manners are:
- Oops, Sorry! A First Book of Manners by Richard Morgan [Baron's Educational Series, 2005]
- My Very First Book of Manners by Michal Sparks [Harvest House Publishers, 2000]
- No Slurping, Little Pig! A Book about Table Manners by Sue Kueffner [Faith Kidz, 2001]
A good way to ensure that a young child will continue to use good manners is to praise him or her. Don’t go overboard, but let the toddler know that he or she did a good job. Model good behavior while the child is growing up, be consistent with expectations, and use specific techniques to be successful when teaching toddlers manners.
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