I have the opportunity to interact with many children of varying ages in my work as a guest teacher. One of the things I have noticed over the last several years is the lack of good manners that these kids display. I rarely hear them say things like “please” and “thank you.” Many kids make demanding statements like “give me that” or “you need to help me,” rather than asking for assistance. They often speak to those in authority with a very disrespectful tone. There are a few kids who are polite; otherwise, the whole situation is a bit disappointing.
My husband (a full-time elementary teacher) and I have had many discussions about this lack of manners and the potential contributing factors surrounding this issue. Obviously, the kids are not being taught, but we have also observed that parents today do not use good manners themselves. We have had many encounters with rude parents in a variety of settings- in the school office, in the hallway, at events like concerts, plays, and athletic events, and in the community at large. So I guess we should not be surprised that their children are rude. Such a disheartening situation.
Parents, manners still matter! As I have mentioned before, children can be very selfish, self-centered little creatures when left to their own devices. We need to teach them how to treat others with kindness and respect. Say please and thank-you, speak to others in a respectful manner, use appropriate table manners, do not interrupt when someone is speaking… good old-fashioned manners.
Manners begin with us! We need to be modeling appropriate behavior for our kids. Remember, our actions usually speak louder than our words, so make sure your kids see you demonstrating these skills. Encourage family members to use good manners with each other. Practice, practice, practice! These might seem like little things, but these little things are vitally important in our everyday lives. Kindness, dignity, and respect…let’s make these a priority in our families.
