| If you are like most moms and dads, you could use a | | | | your mouth closed. |
| parenting tip on how to improve the holiday manners | | | | Of course, some manners have developed for more |
| of your children. Manners are important in any season, | | | | complicated reasons. Still, a child who has been taught |
| of course, but teaching our children to put their best | | | | to be gracious will be appreciated whether or not he |
| foot forward during this activity-rich time of year would | | | | has the details of fork usage down pat. |
| certainly lower most families' stress levels a notch or | | | | 4. Be culturally relevant. |
| two. | | | | Do you have cultural or religious traditions that you |
| Here are my top five "mind your manners" tips for | | | | would like to pass onto your children? Most parents do. |
| helping children get the most out of this holiday season. | | | | For instance, holiday manners include knowing what to |
| 1. Practice all the time. | | | | do when candles are passed around at a church's |
| As you would expect, manners are a habit and as | | | | Christmas Eve service. Don't wait until your family is |
| such cannot be simply paraded out of moth balls on | | | | 'on the spot' to teach the meaning behind the tradition. |
| cue. You are setting your kids and your parenting skills | | | | Your children will integrate far more if you explain |
| up for failure if you plan to arrive at a holiday gathering | | | | upfront "why we do what we do". |
| and expect your children to behave in ways they've | | | | 5. Be fair. |
| never practiced. Most adults don't like that kind of | | | | Here's my favorite parenting tip pertaining to holiday |
| surprise either! | | | | manners. Don't expect more from your kids than they |
| 2. Practice the specific. | | | | are ready to give. The holidays are a wonderful |
| If you are going to a holiday function where you know | | | | season and are filled with an abundance of meaningful, |
| specific types of manners will be required from your | | | | reflective, and memorable activities. Plan your family's |
| children (like a formal table setting, for example), train at | | | | holiday excursions with an eye towards |
| home first. Lay out a formal table, practice eating | | | | age-appropriateness. |
| challenging foods, and show your kids how to make a | | | | Asking a toddler to sit quietly through hours of adult |
| formal introduction (don't forget training on how to | | | | festivities or demanding a teenager give up all social |
| shake hands). | | | | contact with her friends just because "it's the holidays" |
| An additional thought that goes along with this particular | | | | means you will have very uncooperative children who |
| parenting tip is to consider the holiday clothing your | | | | definitely won't be interested in "making others more |
| children will be wearing. Is it stain-proof? Washable? | | | | comfortable". |
| Uncomfortable? Does it get in the child's way? It's | | | | Manners can put people at ease and allow them to |
| really tough to listen to mom and dad and be | | | | enjoy their social situations relaxed and with far more |
| well-mannered when your new sparkly tights are itchin' | | | | pleasure. Certainly this is true when children are placed |
| up a storm! | | | | in holiday spotlights they've never experienced before. |
| 3. Explain what's going on. | | | | So use this holiday parenting tip to your advantage. |
| Manners are tough to learn if no one has explained the | | | | With some upfront practice, a few honest |
| 'why' behind the 'what'. What I have taught my kids is | | | | explanations, and age-appropriate expectations, your |
| this; manners are simply a way to make others feel | | | | children can experience firsthand the richness of this |
| comfortable. When a person is looking out for the | | | | holy time of year. |
| comfort of others, it's easy to remember to chew with | | | | |