Reinforcing Children’s Manners During the Holidays

Making a list and checking it twice…

Though it can be challenging to consistently remind children to be polite in the midst of hectic holiday activities and travels, there’s no better time of year to drive home the importance of good manners. Especially with young children, it’s important to teach them to communicate with others in a way that promotes mutual respect. Here are some holiday ideas to get your kids interested in making sure that they remain on Santa’s “nice” list!

Manners Paper Chain

This is a fun way to visually reinforce good manners, family teamwork, and make a pretty holiday decoration!

1. Make your own nice list – consisting of the manners that need to be checked-twice – saying, “Please”, “Thank You”, “May I”, and “Excuse me” and include any behaviors that need extra attention: “Chew with your mouth closed ”, “Napkin in your lap”, “Ask to be excused from the table.”
2. Cut out 6 x 1 inch lengths of colored construction paper or pretty Christmas decorative paper (Consider using scrap wrapping paper for strips.). Keep a pile of strips in a convenient spot with a stapler or paste. You can even set aside special paper such as gold or silver for a particular behavior

Now, you’re ready to encourage your ever-courteous children! Every time you “catch” your children using good manners, reward them by letting them add a link to the manner chain. Siblings should be encouraged to work together with ‘positive tattling’. The chain can be used to decorate a Christmas tree or doorway. You might even write a little note about the good deed or manner on the links as they’re earned. Continue to build the manners chain, (encouraging children to see how long they can make it) until the holidays arrive, by then, the children will have surely made Santa’s good list! Now there’s a gift that everyone can appreciate!

Gingerbread Manners Tea

Host a Gingerbread Tea Party and practice your children’s best holiday table manners.

You’ll need:

• Gingerbread Boys
• Hot Chocolate
• Small table and chairs
• Napkins and small place settings

Before your tea, set a small table with enough chairs for your children and a couple of their favorite stuffed friends. Invite your children to bring a stuffed friend to a Gingerbread Manners Tea. You can create a real invitation by using a cookie cutter as a template.

When your little guests arrive, explain that this is a special Gingerbread Tea to teach their stuffed friends how to use their best table manners. Make it fun and use exaggerated silly voices and say things such as “Oh, Teddy dear, won’t you please pull out the chair for Mrs. Fluffy Stuff?” or “Mrs. Fluffy Stuff, please pass the hot chocolate,” or “Teddy, darling, your napkin would look lovely in your lap. Let me help you.” This over-the-top tea party should make everyone laugh while reinforcing good table manners.