Best resource for teaching manners

We just read found a great little picture book about manners. It is called Madeline Says Merci: The Always Be Polite Book. It doesn’t address table manners per se but more general issues like pleases and thank yous.

http://www.amazon.com/Madeline-Says-Merci-Always-Be-Polite-Book/dp/067003505X

HTH!

We have the manners game that Queen HOmeschool sells.  It uses coins (we use buttons) and has laminted cards with the table manners on them.  Each person at the table is to be on look-out for someone breaking a rule and call them on it.  The worst thing I’ve found with this game is that my very, very competitive (public-schooled) 10 yo niece loves the game – but she loves it because it’s a chance to criticize and nitpick others.  I’ve actually out-lawed the game while she’s around. 

We have also enjoyed the manners game from Queen’s Homeschool. Its focus is mealtime manners, but it is a lot of fun and our kids really pay attention to their manners when we play the game. We use dimes, so the loss of money is a real bummer for kids who forget to ask for food to be passed or put their napkin in their lap.

For other, non-mealtime manners, we really like Laying Down the Rails for Children. Many of the habits are also good manners, such as the habits of Courtesy (behavior marked by respect for and consideration of others), Reverence (consideration for others; respect for person and property), and Alertness to Seize Opportunities (being aware of ways to serve in your surroundings and taking the initiative to do them).

Charlotte even had a habit of Manner (social rules of conduct shown in the prevalent custom) which is also covered in LDTRFC. This book is a worthy investment for training children in all habits, not just those having to do with manners. I highly recommend it!

Oh and CharlotteMasonHelp.com finally came up…guess it was just down for a bit.