10 Rules of Etiquette Every Child Should Learn

There are so many things parents should teach their children as a means to encourage them to grow up to be well-balanced, polite and healthy adults. While most parents focus on manners, education, and basic common courtesy, there are some specific rules of etiquette every child should learn. These rules of etiquette may be taught at different ages, but they all should be something a parent works to teach their child before the child becomes an adult.

Before we go further, you might check out these wonderful resources for delivering etiquette concepts and habits to children to teens.

365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activities, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children and Teens Learn Etiquette50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know: What to Do, What to Say, and How to Behave (The GentleManners Series)The Modern Etiquette Book for Toddlers to Teens: Polite Kids = Happy Kids = Successful KidsA Kids’ Guide to Manners: 50 Fun Etiquette Lessons for Kids (and Their Families)Connoisseur Kids: Etiquette, Manners, and Living Well for Parents and Their Little Ones (Etiquette for Children, Manner Books for Kids, Parenting Books, Books on Elegance)50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know Revised and Expanded: What to Do, When to Do It, and Why (The GentleManners Series)

 

Rules of etiquette every child should learn

1. Greeting Guests

Every child should be taught to say hello and goodbye to guests that come into your home.

2. Remember Names

it’s important that a child learn the importance of remembering a frequent visitors’ name, but to know it’s okay to ask politely to be reminded of their name if they forget.

3. Wait for an Answer

Children need to know that it’s polite to wait for someone to respond to a question they ask, such as “how are you”.

4. Be Aware of Surroundings

this is the basic stop and look both ways sort of rule, that applies in any public space. Children need to learn to pause and be aware of their surroundings as a means to avoid rudely darting in front of another person while out in public.

5. Basic Manners

Children need to learn how to use basic manners in an appropriate manner, they’ll learn this rule of etiquette based on parental example.

6. Do not Interrupt

children need to learn how to ask politely to interrupt a conversation, such as “excuse me” and wait for a response before speaking when others are having a discussion.

7. Ask Permission

No matter what it is, a child should always ask permission to use something or have something. This is a great way to show respect when visiting another person’s home or out in public with their parents or friends.

8. Extra Commentary

Children need to learn the rules of etiquette as it pertains to not making negative or extra commentary about another person’s physical appearance, the sound of their voice or other attributes that could create hurt feelings.

9. Say No Thank You

Instead of being negative about disliking something or not wanting to do something, a child needs to learn how to say “no thank you” when asked to try something, do something or engage in an activity that they prefer not to take part in.

10. Maintain Eye Contact

Children need to learn how to maintain eye contact with those people who are speaking to them. This is a way to be polite and let the person know that you’re listening to what they’re saying.

There are many rules of etiquette that we all learn through trial and error as well as life experiences, but this list of 10 rules of etiquette every child should learn will give your child a good head start. Once you’ve become an adult some of these rules of etiquette will be a matter of whether or not your adult child gets gainful employment, has healthy friendships and relationships or is able to survive in their new adult life.

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