Baby (0-1 Years):
What Manners to Teach Them:
Politeness in speech: Modulate your tone when you speak to your baby and use social niceties such as “please” and “thank you” when speaking directly to them or in conversations in their presence. Your example will guide them as they learn to speak.
Nice Touch: Gently direct your baby on how to treat parents, siblings and pets. Teach babies from 0-1 years not to pull or grab somebody’s hair by physically moving their hand and demonstrating a soft stroke on a dog’s back or by rubbing their fingers across your hair. This will teach them limits and introduce the concept of cause and effect in relation to their actions. Gentleness will translate as they get older into politeness,
Respect for Others:
Practice well-mannered activities in front of your baby, such as holding the door for someone, saying “excuse me” when you bump into them, or picking something up after you drop it. Give commentary to your baby on what you just did and why. They register this in their minds. Babies can learn what is appropriate. When the doorbell rings, it is time to go to the door. The subtle cues of listening, watching and acting are being put together piece by piece by young children and babies.
Toddlers.
As toddlers’ grasp on language develops and they begin to move around more, you can begin to practice good manners with them. But during these years, parents must realise that manners are taught, not inherent, and it will take time for the lessons to become ingrained. So repeat, repeat, repeat!
At this age, play is still not always interactive play, but parents can start to remind children to respect others’ space, not grab, not hit. Essentially, this is the time of ‘play nice’. Parents need to be hands-on during this time, as these concepts are still difficult to understand.
What Manners to Teach Them:
Sharing: “Be gentle” and “we have to share” while taking away the fought-over toy.
Politeness: Practice saying “please” and “thank you” often — but expect to say it a lot before they get it.
