Courtesy and good behavior - why they are so important

Even the smallest should learn a lot about courtesy, because the respectful interaction with each other is one of the cornerstones of our society. The role model role of parents plays a significant role here.

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In addition to the positive atmosphere, which is created by a polite interaction with each other, courtesy also gives security. With the most important rules, children automatically learn how to behave correctly in unfamiliar and new situations. This will also benefit them in later adult life.

The principles

Please, thank you, sorry, hello - these are the simplest rules of courtesy that even small children should and can master. To anchor these in the child behavioral repertoire, parents can use the fact that toddlers learn to a large extent by imitation. Show him how it's done and trust your child to be polite to other people. It also means that you should be friendly and respectful with your child. If your yearling gives you a building block, you can give it a friendly "thank you" and give it back the log with a "Bitteschön". This often develops games in which the request-Thanks can be well practiced. Train politeness constantly and in all situations and situations of everyday life, because only through continuous practice, the little ones learn the important rules.

Courtesy should be fun

However, do not exert any pressure - because courtesy should also have something friendly and playful and not degenerate into mere phrases. If little kids just forget now and then that they say please or thank you, then they can certainly be pointed out. But forcing them to do so is very hard - because how do you get a three-year-old to say something he does not want to say - and secondly, politeness makes him uncomfortable. This is also true and especially for shaking hands, because forced touches children should not be expected in principle.

About apologizing

Many adults find it difficult to apologize. One of the most important principles of good behavior is the ability to admit your own mistakes and to recognize that you have injured or disturbed others. Again, apply: Be a role model. Also apologize to your child if you have accidentally triggered it or if you were unjust to him due to bad mood or nervousness. Apologies should be self-evident within a family and ensure a warm and respectful interaction with each other. Encourage your child to apologize every time he makes a mistake or notice he has hurt someone.

Good behavior - nonverbal

In addition to the general rules of courtesy, good behavior is also an important issue that children should learn early. Drilling on your nose, not putting your hand over your mouth when you cough, interrupting others, avoiding eye contact, being unpunctual or having a too sloppy outfit do not work well in the environment. Explain to your child, whatever the rules you make and whatever you demand of good behavior, explain why. In order to make your child aware of the effect of his behavior, you can also mimic it so that it gets a feel for what it does to others.

Courtesy and good manners - important basis for professional life

Then, when your child applies for an apprenticeship, the value of respectful and friendly behavior is particularly evident. Adolescents who are safe in the rules of verbal and nonverbal courtesy at the job interview make a good first impression and have much better chances of finding a job or a job. But this works only if the child has already internalized the manners. Courtesy is not learned in a few weeks, but by constant training from the toddler age.

With the education of courtesy and good manners, you equip your child with an important ability that can be used over and over again for the rest of his life. However, you should not overdo it. For even a no or criticism of others are important and courtesy must not mean that you swallows everything and is friendly in every situation.