Untitled

[morningpaper]

I've been reading this old article by Joan Bakewell

"Next, children. One of the joys of parenthood is looking upon your offspring as little angels. An adjacent pleasure is having others share that view. The interface between the two will depend on their manners. Forget the piano lessons, and ballet classes, neglect football practice and the school choir. A fluency with daily manners is one of the finest gifts you can give your children, and for that you need to start young."

Which got my thinking what manners in young children are essential and which are just nice?

ESSENTIAL MANNERS: (Without these I am )

• please
• thank you
• excuse me
• hello to anyone you know

DESIRABLE: (without these I am )

• hand in front of mouth for sneezing/coughing
• closing mouth when eating
• asking to get down from table
• thanking adults for hospitality
• pardon me for farting/burping

NICE: (these make me )

• thanking adults for nice meals
• thank you letters/pictures

What would you add?

where did my thread title go?

Giving an adult a seat and happily sitting on the floor if there are not enough chairs.

wait I can't do this without a thread title

that is just weird

A good list. I would add 'not picking nose' to 'desirable' - age dependent tho...

Also dd has started saying 'it's nice to see you' to rellies etc - I think this counts as manners - or does it?

Hand in front of mouth I would catagorise as essential tbh.

For older children I would add to your desirables:
Holding doors open for grown ups
In formal situations standing up (or at least acknowledging) when a guest comes into the room for the first time.
Oh and seats on buses/trains etiquette also important.

I'm with most of those listed in the OP, but just spare a thought for those with less malleable children - who despite regular exhortations and reminders fail to do many of those things unbidden