Do you teach your child good manners?
By snoopy04
@snoopy04 (718)
United States
November 26, 2007 9:21pm CST
Maybe I am old fashioned but when I was a child my parents taught me to say no sir and yes sir, no mam and yes mam, always knocking before entering a room, cleaning up your mess when your at someone elses house, taking your plates to the sink. My kids do all of these things and more because that what my parents taught me. I am 35 years and to this day when I am talking to someone I will say no sir or no mam. I believe that it shows respect towards others and excellent manners as well. Zacs teacher tells me that he is the most polite well behaved little boy in her class. That respects his teachers and other adults and is very kind and considerate and that I should be very proud of him. She said I should keep up the good work and be proud of waht I have accomplished so far. I am so proud of him but my in-laws seem to think otherwise. My husbands family is very laid back and when you go to their house you open the door and go right on in. Well I teach my kids to knock first and then open the door and shout hello. Well his family think its so weird that I am teaching my kids to do that. Maybe it is but I dont want them walking into their friends house unannounced like that, most people like to know when someone is coming over or someone is at their door. They also dont agree with my kids saying yes sir or no sir. I have heard their cousins make fun of them because my son answered his aunt by saying no mam. Well she said she doesnt expect her kids to address a adult that way so thats why her kids were making fun of Zac and Logan. Well I told her I would appreciate it if her kids wouldnt make fun of my kids just because I was teaching the right way to talk to a adult. I got my message across and now they dont pick on them anymore. Why would you not want to teach that to your child?
Am I just to old fashioned or am I trying to steer my kids down the right path and let them grow up and become well mannered,respectful, cosiderate men and women.
4 people like this
12 responses
@Ohara_1983 (4117)
• Kuwait
6 Dec 07
Nobody tech thier children in bad manner, even me, i want my kid to grow up like what my parent do, to have a respect to all people around me,so when they grow up they can teach also there kids what they learn from us,hospitality is the most important so anywhere you go you feel that people respect you because oyu show them also respect.
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
28 Nov 07
I think every kid should be taught good manners. My son is 2 1/2 and people can't believe how much he says please and thank you and that he shares,even his lollies. Next step is to teach him to eat with his mouth closed, and wait to talk when someone else is talking. He's pretty good with that one already.
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
27 Nov 07
I do teach my children to be polite and kind to others. I do also teach them to treat others as you would like to be treated. However I am not as concerned with certain things like please and thank you as long as what they say is said nicely.
@foxygirle (376)
• Philippines
28 Nov 07
Children with good manners and right conduct gets more respect from people. You are doing the right thing. Do keep it up. Its better for people to say that your kids is well behave , never mind your in-laws. When your kids are grown up, they will have more good rewards and will achieve better in life since you taught them well. Being considerate to others is a good virtue. Its one thing parents should past on to their kids.
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
28 Nov 07
As a parent, I consider it as an obligation to teach my children not only good matters but everything that they should know in order to have a harmonious relationship with people around them, survive in this world full of insanities, and be a better person they should be when they grow up. I don't force them with things, if they don't listen, i let them learn from their mistakes. It is very important that we teach them first before everyone does. because it is humiliating on us, as parents.
@toryaslim822 (240)
• United States
28 Nov 07
I am 20 years old and I watch my two cousins for a living. When I first started teaching them they had no manners what so ever. I had to teach them how to say excuse me after they burp or something like that. I also had to teach them to say "Thank-you" or "Your Welcome". When I was telling my mom this, since it is her sister's kids I am watching, she flipped out on my Aunt. Since that is not how they were raised. My cousins were chewing with their mouths open and having elbows on the table when eating. They had no respect for adults or anything. Now, my aunt is getting compliments from how mannered her children are. Thanks to me. But I agree children should learn how to act toward adults and have manners for every day life. Because I personally think it is rude to enter somebody eles house with out knocking. I always have done that and so does my cousins. So I think kids should have manners and maybe the country wouldn't be so horrible with the crime or something in that order. I dont know if crime is what I am thinking about, but maybe my generation would be better if we had more manners. Do you know what I mean?
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
27 Nov 07
I think it's great your son is so well mannered but sometimes i think putting 'sir' or 'ma'am' at the end is a little old fashioned. It's not to say it's a bad thing you've taught him that - there are still people that use those terms but most children (even the well mannered ones) don't go as far as to add sir or ma'am at the end.
I think people just do their best with how they teach their kids manners & you should do whatever you think is the best way.
I just try & teach my daughter to be polite, say please & thank you - as long as she's polite & considerate i will be happy.
Here in Oz, adding Sir & Ma'am have never been a big thing - well, i've never heard anyone use it (except when my parents were talking about being at school & they had to answer their teachers that way) so for me it's a little harder to understand why you'd use it but if people are impressed by your son's politeness then i think you've done a great job!
I still think my daughter will be well mannered, respectful & considerate when she's a little older - even without the sir or ma'am! She is only 17 months though :) She does better with her thank you's (that's the 1 thing she does say now) than her cousins & they're all older than she is! I guess we're doing ok in the manners department!
@youless (112100)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Nov 07
Sure. I think good manners are so important. I always tell my child to be polite. So when I am home, he always says:"Hello, mom." When he receives something, he will say thank you. When someone is leaving, he will say goodbye. Good manners doen't mean that the children have to follow your ideas, they can have different opinions. Good manners mean that they know how to appreciate others and say the right words. Good manners will be beneficial in one's whole life.
@gem3072001 (92)
• Philippines
27 Nov 07
teaching your child the good manners is not being old fashioned it is just leading them to the right path where your parents wanted to you. You acknowledge the good deed they taught to you so you want to pass it on to your siblings
@bbsr13 (4196)
• India
27 Nov 07
hello, snoopy! showing respect to elders,to the teachers,wel coming the guests at home is quite good practice.you have developed a good culture with your children it is not old fashioned .that is very good.your children will earn name and fame in their future.do not worry for what others say of them.thank you and all the best.
