Back to school etiquette rules part 2

We discussed some great etiquette tips to go over with your children during this back to school period. We will finish those thoughts today.

1) Respect Your Peers - by the time most kids get to school they know not to take things from other people and to let everyone have a "turn."  These rules should be translated to the classroom setting - like don't take others homework or snacks and let each person touch the pet turtle being passed around. 

2) Play Nicely - this further echoes the respect point above but can go a little deeper. Even if a child does not like someone they can be nice to them.  You can also emphasize following safety rules on places like the playground so that no one gets hurt. 

3) Classroom Behavior - you should stress to your child there will be new rules in classrooms that may be unfamiliar to them. They are there to help everyone learn and stay safe. Stress that the teacher and principal are in charge and that you should do as they say. 

4) Accepting Differences - make sure your child knows there is a wide range of differences among students in their classes. Some of the things they will encounter are different abilities, religions, races, types of families and living situations. 

For what it's worth these tips can also help us adults in an office, nonprofit, church, etc. situation. As I wrote this post, I had to look in the mirror to make sure these were ideals and actions  I was pursuing each day. What we know is that it's no easy task to do these things all of the time and practicing good manners should be a lifelong commitment.  

Back to School Etiquette Rules - Part 1

This is a hectic time of year for many families as we get kids back into the swing of a school schedule and school responsibilities. This presents a great opportunity to talk to your kids about some etiquette tips that will help them this school year and into their future!

1) Respect time - tell your children what time school starts and explain the importance of honoring that by arriving on time. Being late is disruptive to everyone in the class. However, it isn’t wise to show up too early because the teacher may not be prepared. 

2) How to address elders or those in authority - If your child hasn’t yet learned how to address adults in authority, explain that teachers should be called Miss, Mrs., Ms., or Mr. with their last names. You can reinforce this by addressing the teachers in the same way to prevent confusion for your child. Children (and adults) need to understand that the use of the proper title shows respect.

3) Cleanliness - Express how important it is to be clean and dressed appropriately for school. This includes bathing, washing hands after eating, and brushing teeth. Cleanliness also can apply to their cubby or desk space - keeping this clean will help them learn to keep a tidy work space in the future and lead to less lost homework in the present!