teaching manners to preschoolers

[SouthernTnMomma]

Is there a game I can make out of it? We do a lot of role playing and reading character stories any other ideas?

[MrsManners]

I have a whole curriculum for preschoolers.  Can you give me something a little more specific that you want to work on? 

They usually love the Please and Thank you Song...sing it like "Are you Sleeping"

Please and Thank You

Please and Thank You

Sound so Nice

Sound so Nice

Don't forget to use them

Don't forget to use them

Every Day

Every Day

I also have the Wiggle and Giggle Game - have them stand up and wiggle and giggle and dance all around and then when you say "May I have your Attention Please" they need to stop, look and listen to you.  Repeatedly playing this game will help you to get their attention in other areas.  You can also do a  version in the car right before going in to a store or restaurant so that they remember when you say May I have your attention that they need to pay attention!

Ummm also, you can say Mommy says Please.  This game I play like simon says, but instead of saying simon you say Please, if you don't say please, then they shouldn't do the action.  I usually make this one pretty physical, hopping, spinning, touching toes etc.  Great ways to wear them out while you are teaching them to use and listen for the magic words.

Let me know what areas you want more help in because I can keep going for days LOL!  These are all from my classes and have proven to be very effective. Most fun for 3 to 6. 

[SouthernTnMomma]

I have a 3 y/o and a 2 y/o I am interested in any advice you have. Attitude is a big one. I really want to instill in my children good attitudes, no back talking, yes mam, non mam, yes sir, no sir, I will definitely use the please and thank you song. I am just looking for anything and I LOVE the simon says game with using please.

[DidiLorillard]

Be a good role model.  Preschoolers learn manners from their parents and caregivers.  Always use the words "please" and "thank you" with your child and he and she will grow up using the same. Teach good table manners early on.  Starting with don't chew with your mouth open, don't throw food, if you want something say, "please" and then "thank you."  A child is never too young to learn manners.  Start with simple phrases such as "Indoor voices, please" meaning outdoors they can scream and yell, but they have to use an indoor voice indoors.  If you and other caregivers have good manners and practice good etiquette, your children will mirror your behavior.  

Didi Lorillard

NewportManners.com

[Butterflytat01]

 

  I like the " May I have your attention please" that is something that needs to be worked on more in our house.

[Butterflytat01]

BUMP!

[MrsManners]

May I have your Attention Please is a great place to start with little ones.  It's important especially when you are out in public.  They become very atune to it and it stops a lot of precarious situations before they start. 

I do agree though whole heartedly about modeling behavior.  If you aren't being the person you want your child to become then they won't be that person either.  It's imperative that you have buy in from everyone in the house.  I also think that if you create your "Here" Manners Plan which is a list of those manners that are most important to you and your spouse you will have much greater success.  You might be surprised to find out that while you want Yes Ma'am and No Sir, he might really think it's imperative that your children learn to make eye contact when they speak.  Both are of equal importance in the grand scheme of things, but to choose a few manners and really work on them as a family makes a BIG impact.

[MrsManners]

The Homemade Manners Program I developed - you add one new manner a week.  If you integrate one of the things that is important to your family each and every week then you have a chance to use the new manner and make it habit before adding another.  Some may take two weeks, but once you see they have mastered it (don't forget that with the little ones they will back slide at times, while frustrating, it isn't the end of the world, just start at the beginning again) then you can move on to the next.  Utilizing the games can make remembering before events and just whenever you need to have them on their best behavior easier. 

[katyvenne]

I could be a lot worse off, but I"m having a rough keeping things up in the air. Although I  do I stay at home,  two preschoolers are gumming up the workse especially with couple