Manners should be a fundamental step in every child’s learning. It’s never too early to start learning manners! Teaching manners to preschoolers is powerful for parents and children alike! It helps children navigate their own social world and grow into healthy, happy adolescents and adults.
Without proper manners knowledge, children can find themselves isolated from others. Not knowing how to act or communicate can cause separation. This could hinder their social and work lives as they grow older.
Why Is Teaching Manners To Preschoolers Important?
Why should you worry about teaching manners to preschoolers?
The reasons are endless. But learning manners is a very important stage in childhood. As a preschool educator, you understand how crucial preschool is for students’ development.
Children learn necessary skills at a young age so that they can continue to grow those skills as they age. If they don’t have the opportunity to process those skills, they could be missing out on key lessons that they’ll need later in life.
Teaching your students how to behave appropriately in a classroom helps transfer those skills to real-life (outside the classroom). Students need to learn good manners and social skills at a young age. This can help them grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults.
Your job is to help them navigate the new world of manners. By showing them appropriate actions and words for situations, you’re setting a positive example for their future.
Learning Good Manners Makes Life Easier and More Fun For Preschoolers
Teaching manners to preschoolers can be fun for them. And as their educator, you should make every opportunity a fun, learning one!
Children are eager to learn. They like to copy the actions of adults because they are naturally curious. It’s your job to take that curiosity they have and redirect it to learning manners.
What are manners for preschoolers?
Basic manners start with greetings and how to introduce themselves. Preschoolers are at the age where they are learning how to interact. They want to make friends. By teaching them how to politely greet one another, you’re introducing a new, engaging way for them to communicate.
Respect is another big lesson that children learn at a young age. They should all learn to treat others the same way they would like to be treated. With a basic understanding of respect, children are more open to learning how to gain and show that respect.
You then have the opportunity to talk about the magic words, like please and thank you. You can also talk about the process of actively listening when someone is talking to them.
Teaching Manners To Preschoolers Makes Them More Polite and Well-Rounded
No one wants to deal with rude children. As a preschool educator, you deal with the trial and error of child behavior. But it doesn’t have to mean dealing with impolite behavior 24/7.
By giving lessons on manners, students have the opportunity to change their behavior. Many children act out in inappropriate ways because they don’t know how to communicate or show their feelings.
You can set a polite and appropriate example for them! Teaching manners to preschoolers gives them the resources they need to effectively (and graciously) communicate their feelings.
When children learn the cordial ways to interact with others, they are more likely to grow into considerate adults. As polite adults, they’ll be more well-rounded…which can open up many opportunities for their social and work life.
You’ll Give Your Students A Number Of Incredible Benefits
The best thing about teaching manners to preschoolers is that there isn’t only one benefit. As a preschool educator, you have so many opportunities to teach children so many different lessons. They have more of an opportunity to soak in all of the benefits of good manners.
Here are some qualities you can expect your students to exhibit when you teach good manners in your preschool classroom:
Increased sense of self-confidence
Higher self-esteem
Empathy for others around them
Understanding etiquette and social skills in the classroom.
Pride in showing their parents what they have learned
How To Start Teaching Manners To Preschoolers In Your Classroom
I often hear from preschool teachers about how easy it is to teach manners in the classroom. For some, the process comes naturally. For others, it never hurts to be reminded of ways that you can start teaching manners to preschoolers in your classroom.
The first thing to remember is that eyes are always on you.
As the teacher of the class (and the only adult), your students are always going to belooking at you as the model. That’s why it is so important for you to set a good example. Show them what is possible to achieve with good manners.
If you demonstrate kindness and respect to others around you, your students are going to pick up on it. When you act with kindness and respect, don’t be afraid to point it out. By explaining to your students what you’re doing, you can walk them through the process. As a result, it will be easier for them to transfer it into their own behavior.
Emphasize the fun of manners! Teaching polite words and actions doesn’t have to be boring. You can create engaging activities that will make students excited to learn manners. Remember, if they see it as a chore, they’ll be less likely to use the manners you teach.
Feel free to contact us to ask questions about teaching or to share your experience.
Manners To Go Makes This Process Easier Than Ever
With the Manners To Go Preschool curriculum, teaching manners in your classroom has never been easier. Our materials allow the process of learning to be fun and easy.
The beautifully illustrated images help children of all ages connect to manners. Activities, like role-playing, help spark creativity and actually make a difference.
Our lesson plans are flexible. With 10-, 20-, or 30-minute sessions, they can fit into any part of your day. Our curriculum is a great way to immerse your child in the world of manners.
Teaching manners to preschoolers is key in setting up their foundation. Establishing appropriate behaviors and a polite attitude can be simple and engaging. Not to mention, it will help the children grow into gracious adults!
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
Patience is a skill that brings lifelong benefits. A patient person will have advantages in many situations, so it’s important to instill at a young age! Teaching patience to preschoolers may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right strategies, it’s a breeze.
Why Is Teaching Patience to Preschoolers Important?
Teaching patience to preschoolers is an important part of their learning to become a harmonious member of society.
Think of patience as the ability to tolerate delays or waiting without becoming upset. This is just as essential a skill for preschoolers as it is for adults.
How many tantrums come around because young children are asked to delay gratification in some form or another? As a parent, the chance of getting frustrated with your children is significantly smaller when they practice patience.
Teaching patience to preschoolers gives them a skill they will use for the rest of their lives. An impatient person will struggle at school, in their personal lives, and even in their professional lives later.
Patient children have the tools to excel in the classroom and the eventual workplace. A child who knows how to be patient contributes to a calmer classroom environment.
Plus, they’re better prepared for the jump to kindergarten!
Easy Tips for Effectively Teaching Patience to Preschoolers
Teaching patience to preschoolers may not seem like the easiest task at first. It may even seem impossible.
But having the right strategies will help you do this without stress!
The more your students learn from you, the better behaved they will be going forward.
Create a Positive Learning Environment
When you are teaching patience to preschoolers, focus on tiny elements to build a positive learning environment for the best results.
Those tiny elements can start as creating tiny habits around patience. Practicing those habits every day will cement them into lifelong coping skills.
One of the best ways to teach patience is to model it. You must be patient yourself!
Take advantage of opportunities to exemplify patience in the classroom. This will make your classroom a positive learning environment. When learning is a positive experience, your students will feel heard, acknowledged, and safe.
Here are some specific ways you can make teaching patience to preschoolers a positive experience.
Get on Their Level
Interact directly with the children you’re teaching. Kneel down and make eye contact.
Let your students know that you get it! You know what they’re learning is tough, but you also know that they can do this.
Make It Fun
Kids love to have fun! You can use this to your advantage when you’re teaching preschoolers patience.
Entice them with activities they enjoy. You can even include games and toys to help the lessons stick.
Offer Choices
Preschoolers desire agency just like adults do.
By giving them options, you’re acknowledging their need to feel like they have some control. Choosing between two activities will keep them more engaged in what they’re doing.
Encourage Participation
When children are struggling with impatience, encourage them to participate in activities.
For example, if they’re impatient while waiting for a snack, you could let them pass out napkins. They stay busy and engaged instead of stressing about the wait!
Model Patience In The Classroom Whenever Possible (& Acknowledge It!)
When you’re teaching patience, you have to model patience! Seek opportunities to discuss, acknowledge, and show patience to your students.
When you’re teaching patience to preschoolers, you’ll have to practice patience plenty yourself. Use it as a teachable moment.
If you’re being patient, draw your students’ attention to it. Tell them how you are coping with the situation. They’re watching and learning from you!
Acknowledging student success is a critical part of making learning stick.
When children demonstrate patience in everyday encounters, praise them! When they’re struggling, be compassionate. Waiting isn’t fun for anyone, let alone toddlers!
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few creative ways to model patience in the classroom.
Practice Gratitude In The Classroom
Add gratitude practices to your daily activity list.
Let every student share something they’re grateful for. This could be something like a new toy, a sunny day, or a friend.
Teach your preschoolers to especially focus on gratitude when they are waiting for something.
Practice Waiting Behaviors
The way we behave when we’re waiting for something matters. It sends a message.
Have your students practice waiting behaviors regularly!
Maybe they smile, maybe they count. Or maybe they need a unique strategy. This is where you can creatively help students work through challenges!
Teaching patience to preschoolers has tremendous benefits for both the students and their teacher! Socializing will be so much smoother.
Plus, children who understand how to practice patience are a joy to teach. They are more responsive and less prone to outbursts.
With these strategies, and a little patience yourself, teaching patience to preschoolers is easy!
Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children
If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOTself-guided.
PRIVATE Training. That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business. Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.
A new book, Modern Manners for Moms and Dads: Practical Parenting Solutions for Sticky Social Situations is being released this week. This is a must read for parents and teachers.
I am thrilled I had the chance to interview them yesterday. They are smart and savvy moms that share real-life experiences in their new book.
This is not your grandmother’s parenting book. Their book deals with issues on guiding young children in today’s hectic and ever-changing world.
From birthday parties to how to ask children if it is ok to post their pictures on your social media, all the questions you ponder as a parent or teacher are answered.
And some of their answers may surprise you.
Take time to make a latte or a cup of tea and enjoy as I interview them about all things sticky when out and about in your daily life with young children.
Yes, we get a bit nerdy about social skills but I promise you will learn so much that you can share with children, spouses and other teachers.
Lisa Richey provides etiquette programs to businesses, schools, and individuals.
