Miss Stacey's "Mind Your Manners!"
A Guide to Daily Etiquette

By: Stacey A. Steinkopf

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Dating Who initiates? Who plans? Who pays?

Netiquette Guidelines for Communication On-line.

Telephone Tips on talking, making and placing phone calls.

Tipping Who receives tips? How much?

Kids

Good manners are important to a child's social success, but no child is born with good manners. Beyond teaching "Please" and "Thank You" many parents aren't sure how to teach a child good manners.

When teaching manners, keep the following in mind:

Teach, Don't Reprimand

Instead of saying, "Don't be so rude!" One could say, "It's not polite to belch at the table, but if you do, say 'Excuse me.'"

Rephrase

If the child says, "Yuck! I hate this green stuff!" Politely correct by saying, "What I'd like to hear you say is, "I don't care for spinach."

Correct Privately

Do your best to resist the urge to reprimand in front of others. Correction is more effective when you do not make a scene.

Common Courtesies

• Ask the child to address adults with a certain degree of formality (Mr. Doe or Mrs. Smith) unless the adult tells them to do otherwise.
  
• Teach the child that it is not polite to interupt when you or anyone else is speaking.
  
• The child should learn not to play with or touch others belongings unless given permission to do so.