Games to teach good manners

For the first time, we were being good guests together -- and having a good time, too. The Guest and Host game has been with us ever since. The fun we have while trying on outrageous behaviors which are even goofier when Miriam's dad, Werner, joins in makes the real lessons much easier to swallow. Over the years, the game has evolved, with the questions and answers becoming increasingly sophisticated, and Miriam's mastery and confidence have grown.

Of course, the responses to more complex queries are trickier than "No, we don't lick the spoon and then put it back in the serving bowl. Playing our game, we can think through the gray areas together. When Miriam was about 9, she wanted to switch it up: I'd ask all the questions, and she'd supply the answers. I think it was her way of signaling that she saw Guest and Host as more than a game; instead, it had become a way for her to test her grasp of social dynamics.

She's now almost 12, and she still wants to play when we're headed to a party. It's still fun. And as her world gets bigger, it might be even more important. A Game to Teach Good Manners. To teach her high-spirited daughter to be a better guest at gatherings, Sherill Hatch invented a simple and effective game. By Sherill Hatch November 10, Pin FB More. Ask for their advice regarding manners in a particular social situation or other scenario as if you are unsure of what to do.

Then steer the conversation, if neccessary, to arrive at the most mannerly solution. Offer other resources. This acts as a followup to Step 5. For example, find a book, website, or other resource that addresses the scenario in Step 5 and that also provides input on additional manners and rules of etiquette.

Present this resource to the person as if you have found the answer to the previous dilemma. Hopefully, they will continue to use this resource to further their use of good manners. When approaching the subject of good manners, be careful not to offend the individual whose manners are lacking. Never embarrass someone about their manners in front of other people. Teresa R. Simpson is a writer from Memphis, Tennessee.

She attended The University of Memphis where she took journalism and creative writing courses. Two children are sitting at a table coloring. It is within the reach of the other child. What should the first child say to the other child nearest the crayons? Choose two children to act this out. The children are in line at the drinking fountain. What should that second child in line do? As many children may role-play this activity as the teacher desires. The teacher is giving directions and one child in the class has a question to ask about the directions being given.

What should that child do? Another child has no sweater or coat and is wearing a short-sleeved shirt.

What should the first child do in this situation? Choose two children to act out this situation. Either use a real sweater and coat or just pantomime putting them on. But there are lots of people in the world, and good manners help everyone get along together. And we know that its not polite to talk with our mouths full.

Good manners make everyone happened make you a person who is nice to know. Manners Game You will need a collection of pictures cut from magazines, each showing children or adults experiencing one of the emotions. Glue to identical sizes of heavy construction paper or card stock. Number Some children have no words to express how they feel. During circle time, hold up one of the pictures and ask the children how this person feels. If they do not know, tell them.

Ask the children to talk about what they see that makes them Activity Stack at least three pictures of each emotion on a table in your classroom.

Mix up the order of the pictures. Hand the stack to a child and ask him to group all the sad pictures together, Either at a table or during circle time, show several pictures portraying the same emotion and ask the children to identify how all the people feel.

Children like puppets because they can safely pretend to be someone else without fear of criticism. The ability to project What to do: Using a small paper bag, make a sample puppet whose face expresses one of the basic emotions. Set materials on the table in the art area and invite the children to make their own happy, sad, angry or Want to do more: Create your own puppet family, each puppet expressing a different emotion.

Use these puppets to put on brief skits for the group. Manners Tea Party Celebrate good manners with a tea party. Discuss the manners that will be necessary at the party. Make honeybuns and have tea. First have each child make a Miss Bee puppet. To make one, draw a smiling face on one yellow paper plate and a frowning face on a second plate. Color tow craft stick black. But two small circles from black construction paper; then glue a circle to one end of each craft stick to represent antennae.

To the back of one plate, tape the craft stick antennae at the top of the plate. Tape another craft stick to the bottom of the plate for a handle.

Glue the backs of both plates together. When each child has made a puppet, have him use his puppet during this group time activity.

Using each of following suggestion, describe a situation in which proper or improper manners were used. Direct each child to display either the happy or sad expression on his puppet to indicate if Miss Bee Polite would approve or disapprove of the behavior.

After using the following suggests, encourage volunteers to contribute scenarios of their own. Bobby Bumblebee bumped his brother off the beehive. Arnie Ant waited his turn in line. Carl Caterpillar crunched quietly. Chrysy Caterpillar chatted with her mouth full. Sammy Spider played with his food. Christopher Cricket chirped wile another cricket was chirping.

Lucy Ladybug borrowed a leaf without asking.