Dear Jacquelyn,

My children are still being taught virtually and they are missing out on important face-to-face interactions. I am thinking of ways to help them so they do not fall behind with their social skills. Can you please offer some suggestions on how to incorporate manners lessons into our daily routine?

Dear Reader,

Learning from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic provides an opportunity to include a lesson that sometimes gets overlooked in our schools: manners.

There are manageable ways to help children brush up on their manners and incorporate these lessons into their daily routine.

First and foremost, it’s very important to explain to children the “why” behind certain manners. This helps them understand why we are asking them to behave in a certain way.

When they understand that the reason is based in kindness and consideration for others, they are more likely to begin to practice it. In addition to the “why,” to have the greatest impact on your children, model the kinds of behavior you want to see in your them. This is key because they are always paying attention.

A good launching point is teaching basic table manners. It’s a fun way to incorporate good manners into your daily routine. Teach children how to set the table, properly hold utensils, and pass food. Have some fun with napkin-folding. As a bonus, it encourages good napkin etiquette.

Since children are missing out on a lot of face-to-face interaction these days, this is the perfect opportunity to teach a good old-fashioned way of communicating: a personal handwritten letter.

Children can write to a grandparent, friends, and others they miss. This is an excellent way to incorporate many topics, such as an art class (small children can draw pictures), a geography lesson (maps to show where the letter is going), and an English lesson all wrapped up in one.

There are many other ways to incorporate the art of good manners into your everyday routine. Encourage small talk, make eye contact, and practice good posture. While many of these behaviors seem like common sense, it’s important to be consistent and practice what we preach.

To have the greatest impact on your children, show kindness and model kind behaviors every day.

Respectfully Yours,

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training. She is on the board of directors of the National Civility Foundation.

All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2020 Jacquelyn Youst