Home Etiquettes

There are a number of ways that parents can teach their children good manners at home. One of the best ways is by example.

Be kind and civil.
Treat everybody with respect and politeness. If you treat someone with respect, that person too will do likewise.
Whenever possible try to share your joys and triumphs, losses and securities with your children who possess a basic, uncluttered wisdom.
Be it outdoors or indoors, table manners are a must in all situations.
Smoking in the house should be avoided, so as to have a pleasant and healthy atmosphere indoor.
Say, "Please", "Thank you", "You're welcome" and "Excuse me."
Look people in the eye when you speak to them.
When you are introduced, stand up and say, "Nice to meet you" or "Hello" or "How do you do?"

Here are some helpful tips and tricks for young people:

Meeting someone new - When young people meet someone new, they should

Stand up.
Shake hands. In the Western world, shaking is an almost-universal gesture of goodwill.
Smile.
Look the other person in the eye and say hello. Use Mr., Miss, or Mrs. when in doubt, use Ms. (pronounced "mizz").

Breaking the ice - Teach your child to use the following questions to easily open a conversation with someone:

Do you live in the neighborhood?
Do you have children?
How did you meet my parents?

Conversational tricks - Young people need to know some of the conversational tricks we all use without thinking. Let them know some of the basics:

People like to talk about themselves.
People don't mind questions, as long as the questions are not too personal (How much money do you make?) or downright rude (Why do you wear that ugly dress?).
Many personal questions are okay to ask: Do you have any children? Do you live around here? Did I see you out running in the park the other day?
Teach your youngster to become aware of the details that can spark a conversation. Remember that the idea behind all of this is not necessarily just to get your child to talk but to also get the other person talking.
If you notice skis or roller blades lying around, for example, ask about these sports. If you just finished reading a book, ask the other person if he, too, has read it. Talk about the latest flick you've seen or one you'd both like to see.
Listen carefully to the other person and don't interrupt the speaker unless something important has come up that he or she should know. Then say, "Excuse me."
The truth is that when people say so-and-so is a good conversationalist, they really mean the person is a good listener.
When introducing people, speak the name of the oldest or most important person first.
Warn children that what they send on computers and what they download can be traced and retrieved and that some dangerous people are prowling the Internet in search of gullible victims.
Don't begin to eat until everyone is seated and has been served.
If you drop something during a meal at home, pick it up. At a friend's house, leave it until the meal is over and then pick it up. At a restaurant, ask the server to replace it if you wish.
If you have to blow your nose, scratch, or so on, excuse yourself and leave the table.
The trick to eating spaghetti is to swirl a little on your fork into a bite-size portion with no dangling ends to drip or flick sauce.