Five Manners Essential to Your Child’s Success

Arden Clise shared these tips with us on Kids and Manners during this week Live Webcast.

Five Manners Essential to Your Child’s Success

by: Arden Clise

1. Good table manners.

· Chew with their mouths closed and chew quietly.

· Wait to eat until everyone has been served.

· Put their napkin on their lap and to use it to wipe their mouth but never to blow their nose.

· Don’t eat with their fingers unless they are too young to use utensils.

· Teach them how to use their utensils properly.

2. Introduce themselves and others.

· Introduce themselves if not introduced

· When introducing two people say the name of the older person or person with a title first and say the name of the younger person or person without a title second. Example: “Coach Ball this is my friend Mary Smith.”

3. Conversation skills.

· Listen, don’t interrupt

· Not a monologue.

· Don’t just wait to talk.

· As parent, reinforce listening skills. Put Blackberry down. Be a good role model.

4. Write thank you notes.

· Kids need to be reminded and prompted.

A few TY note pointers to help:

1. Have a supply of note cards on hand.

2. Send the card within 48 hours so that feelings are still fresh

3. Follow this format for thank you notes:

a. Say thank you for the gift or whatever it is you received.

b. Let the giver know what you plan to do with it or have done with it.

c. Tell the person how much you like the gift or why you are so happy with it

d. If your child didn’t like the gift or received a duplicate have them say something about how thoughtful it was of the giver to give them a gift.

5. Be nice and courteous to others.

· Respect differences

· Be kind to others and don’t intentionally hurt people.

· Say please and thank you.

· Help others – hold doors, help coach put equipment away, visit friend in hospital

· Look for the positive – give sincere compliment

Modern Manners for Modern Children class, March 5, 11am to 1pm, Bothell, WA. For more information go to http://www.cliseetiquette.com/events/

DIY LEGO Capes Kids can make

Hanging out at LEGO land this week with my two of my LEGO addicted boys got me thinking about fun craft projects boys might be able to do with a LEGO theme. In my search I came across this fun idea from Zakka Life - LEGO capes.

This would be a great LEGO birthday party activity as well.

Click here to get the complete how to instructions.

Bedtime Routine Tips

by: Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS

Bedtime can become a positive part of the day with simple Bedtime routines:

Time For Bed - School-aged children should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night, so determine what time your children will go to bed each night and begin being consistent so they are well rested each morning.

Nightly Bed Time Routines - Having a routine helps to ease your children into bed each night. Begin the routine about 30 minutes prior to the established bed time. The routine might include: Changing into PJ's, having a bedtime snack, a warm bath, brushing their teeth, saying good night to other family members and in our house the dog, reading a story together with mom and/or dad, saying bedtime prayers, getting the right blanket, stuffed toy and pillow that your child needs to sleep with.

Take a few minutes to talk to your kids as they wind down and get ready for bed asking them about their day, or discuss the story you have read together, create a short conversation it could include remember when stories, your life as a child stories, create a made up story you tell your children each night adding new parts and characters to it, or ask what your children what they are thankful for today.

Limit brain stimulation by turning all video games and TV prior to bedtime to begin shutting their brains down for the night.

Peaceful Sleeping - Create an environment that your children will have a restful and peaceful night of sleep. No loud music or televisions playing in adjacent rooms, as your children prepare for Bed time keep things quiet and calm as they unwind.

What is your bedtime routine with your kids?