One of the first words my daughter said was “peas.” But she wasn’t asking for the green vegetable for which I’d have been thrilled to put on her plate. She was being polite!
She had heard about that “magic word” countless times from a certain purple dinosaur, so maybe that’s where she picked it up. Or maybe she really was listening when I repeatedly asked, “What do you say?” when she asked for juice. Either way, I loved hearing her ask for something with “peas” tacked on afterward. My husband and I made sure we praised her politeness and pretty soon it became a habit. Later on, I reinforced the importance of saying “thank you.” Part of it was because I needed to feel like what I was doing was appreciated and I wasn’t just a waitress, laundress and cook doing chores that went unnoticed. The other part was – it’s just good manners.
Saying please and thank you goes a long way in life, as does covering your mouth when you sneeze, using the proper utensils, and not interrupting. This last one is tough even for some adults, but encouraging children to think about how their actions affects others is an important lesson and should come as early as possible. Plus, your tyke will soon discover it’s hard to resist a cute little voice asking for “one more cookie, please.”
These books explain manners in easy-to-understand language and attention-grabbing pictures. So thanks for reading them to your children. One day they will thank you!
Say Please! by Tony Ross Little Princess isn’t acting like royalty in this hilarious story. With an angry red face, mouth wide open, and utensils flying above her head, the tot shrieks, “I WANT MY DINNER!” Queen instructs her to say please, and while attaching a napkin, she does so. Next, she wants her potty, then her teddy bear. When Beastie demands his dinner, Little Princess teaches him manners. Kids will laugh and learn. (Ages 3-5; Kane/Miller Book Publishers 2006; $4.95)
Manners, by Aliki Straightforward text and cartoony drawings drive home lessons about manners in an engaging way. Readers can see examples of proper and improper behavior, from saying “thank you” to not interrupting. The first page tells why manners matter, explaining, “Manners are words and actions that show others you care.” A comprehensive book to refer to many times. (Ages 3-8; Greenwillow Books 1997; $6.99)
Monster Manners, by Bethany Roberts, illustrated by Andrew Glass A rollicking story illustrates good and bad behavior of friendly monsters trying to do their best: “They might forget their manners when they cough and sneeze and blow. But they sometimes say ‘Excuse me,’ and pass tissues to and fro.” A fun way to get the manners message across. (Ages 5-8; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 1997; $5.95)
Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, by Whoopi Goldberg; illustrated by Olo Outrageous artwork and irreverent humor liven up lessons that touch on interrupting, covering one’s mouth when sneezing, apologizing and more. The book also covers less-written-about manners, including knocking before entering a room, unwrapping candy at the movies and behaving in an elevator. (Ages 4-8; Hyperion 2010; $6.99)
Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant, by Leslie McGuirk and Alex von Bidder Charming artwork and prose tell how Wiggens, a Labrador puppy, attends a class at the Four Seasons Restaurant and changes from “yipping when you don’t get what you want” and “putting too much inside your mouth at one time,” to having good manners. It ends with: “If you act with kindness and respect, you will always have good manners.” Adults will like this one as much as kids. (Ages 3 and up; Candlewick Press 2009; $16.99)
