Common Courtesy Isn't So Common

I have been struck this week by how courteous and helpful the people of Cabo San Lucas, and the surrounding areas have been.  While our inability to speak Spanish has made our trip a little more challenging, the locals can read the confusion in our faces and often offer assistance without being asked. 

As our family discussed how polite everyone has been, I remembered something...A couple of months ago, an idea was being to rumble around.  In the last two days it has begun to take shape.   Where are our manners?  Do parents realize the importance of manners regarding their childrens' future?

Children with good manners and social graces are going to be more successful later in life.  Think about the classroom.  Who does the teacher favor, the child who knocks over a pile of books and walks away, or the child who comes to help pick up the fallen books?  And what about the child who says, "You can't tell me what to do, you're not my boss" compared to the child who complies when instructed to complete an undesirable task?

You don't have to be a teacher to know the answer.  Teachers are going to work harder with the child who displays good manners.

Saying "please" and "Thank-you" are important, even mandatory at our house, but there is so much more to be learned about the social graces.  And what about you as a parent?  Do you feel comfortable with manners, conversation, hospitality and etiquette in social settings?  If you don't, where will your child learn how to make polite conversation in social settings?  Where will your child learn how to make introductions?  And what about walking with confidence?  Good manners make good first impressions.  That's a fact you can't argue.

So, I've been thinking.....

I've developed a plan for teaching the social graces to mothers and daughters.  Content would be geared toward different age groups, but the basic format would remain the same:

1.  Define the concept and explain its importance
2.  Demonstrate the concept - this would be done through skits and  songs
3.  Group activity
4.  Summary

So far, I have written lyrics for four songs and have outlined two skits.  My goal is to develop a program for one age group and then move on to the next.

Topics to be included:
Moving with Confidence
Speaking with Confidence
What to do When Jokes Aren't Funny
Telephone Etiquette
Tactfulness
Respect
(I've got many, many more...)

I won't bore you with more details, suffice it to say, I have ten pages of notes in additional to the lyrics and skit outlines.

It is a fact that children without social graces have more trouble with parents, family, teachers and friends.  Perhaps, a fun, playful approach to teaching manners to children will make a difference.  I'm going to try.