Tips to raise a polite child

We all deserve to be treated with respect – it is the most basic form of kindness. Hence it is a good idea to teach children about manners and good etiquette from a young age itself, as it will help form good habits for the future. They will need the appropriate skills to interact with others and engage in social situations. Below is some guidance that was shared by a prep school in London on how you can raise a polite child.

Teach them about what is appropriate/ inappropriate to say

You might not be able to train your child for every single social interaction that they have, but there are some common things that we should and should not say in public. That includes negative comments on others’ appearances, and those that may cause offence. 

You can’t obviously train your child for every single social interaction that they have, but there are some common things that we should and should not say in public. That includes negative comments on others’ appearances, and those that may cause offence. 

Focus on the importance of empathy

Prompt your child to think about others and their feelings. This will help them to decipher how best to handle situations while being respectful towards others’ feelings. Here’s a post on how you can help instil empathy in your children.

Condemn bad behaviour

If they see something wrong happen in front of them, you should talk to your child about what they’ve seen and explain why it’s wrong. This will stop them from getting mixed messages and normalising bad behaviour.

Table manners are important too!

There are also some general table manners that children will need to learn. These include:

• Eating with their mouth closed
• Not talking with a mouthful of food
• Saying please and thank you for their food 
• Washing their hands before coming to the table
• Leaving their devices behind

Set a good example yourself

You will of course need to be mindful of your own actions as your child is constantly watching and observing your behaviour. You are their role model, so as well as reminding them to use their manners and mind others’ feelings, you should be sure to do so yourself.