It isn\u2019t just about teaching your children good manners, it\u2019s also about behaving well yourself.<\/p>\n
Adhere to these simple recommendations, and your children will follow your good example:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Tips for Parents<\/p>\n
\u2022 Your example is all important. So don\u2019t lose your temper, and keep your reactions to your child well-moderated. If you\u2019re angry with a child because of his\/her behaviour in a public place (a supermarket, for example), don\u2019t shout the roof down.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Speak reasonably to your child. If the situation is getting out of control, take it outside. Don\u2019t humiliate your child in public.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Don\u2019t humiliate your child in front of his\/her friends. If your child\u2019s behaviour is becoming intolerable, take him\/her out of the room and speak to him away from other children.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Don\u2019t make empty threats. If your response to bad behaviour is to say \u201cany more of this and we\u2019re going home without an ice cream\u201d then you must do precisely what you threatened if the misbehaviour continues. If you don\u2019t carry through your child will quickly learn to take your volatile reactions with a pinch of salt.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If you can see that your child is being bullied, or pushed and shoved, by another child, wait and see if the other parents will intervene.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If they don\u2019t, it\u2019s perfectly acceptable to take the situation in hand. Obviously your response should be calm and gentle, \u201cI think xxxx was already playing with that toy\u201d or \u201cBe careful, I think you might be hurting xxxx\u2019s arm\u201d. These comments are very mild, and shouldn\u2019t anger the offending child\u2019s parents (in fact they may act as a useful mild reproach, and provoke them into actually doing something constructive).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Try and avoid, where possible, complaining to the parents \u2013 people can become very defensive about their children and may react very aggressively.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be very vigilant about the behaviour of your child around other children, and intervene quickly if you think that your child is causing problems.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be aware at all times of the impact your child is having on other adults around you, especially in places where people can reasonably go with the expectation of some peace and quiet \u2013 train carriages, restaurants, pubs and so on.<\/p>\n
\u2022 For example, if you\u2019re sharing a carriage in a train with a quiet, newspaper-reading commuter, and your children are creating carnage, then it\u2019s up to you to intervene. The same goes for restaurants, where rowdy kids can frequently disturb other diners.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If, on the other hand, your kids are playing noisily in the park and you\u2019re getting filthy looks from the dog-walker, you might reasonably conclude that they\u2019re being very over-sensitive about natural behaviour in a public place. If they find children playing in a park thoroughly objectionable, then they are obliged to move on.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Always lead by example. Be polite at all times, listen carefully, act deferentially towards the elderly, show consideration for people in public places. Your good manners will inevitably rub off on your children.<\/p>\n