The Value Of Teaching A Child To Behave Properly And With Good Manners

Having children can be a great joy and possibly the best experience you will have in your life; however, poorly behaved children are a trial and offer you unnecessary challenges while missing out on a lot of happiness of their own. When you teach your children to behave properly in public and at home, you make your own job as a parent easier and more enjoyable, and you also help your children to be happier. Not knowing how to behave in public and in interactions with friends and family can cause children a great deal of heartache as they mature. Follow these tips to set a good example for your children and help them learn to work and play well with others.

1. When you're teaching your child to behave properly, behave properly yourself. Don't shout at your children to tell them to be quiet! Don't hit your children to teach them to be gentle. Teaching by example will make your life easier and create a lasting good impression.

2. If you have bad habits such as swearing, shouting and so forth, take positive, measurable steps to correct these behaviors in yourself. Be open and honest about your shortcomings, and share your commitment to self improvement with your children. Let them know that you are aware of your imperfections, and that you are working on them. This will help your children learn the art of self improvement.

3. Create consistent rules. Don't accept a behavior one time and punish harshly for it another. Be clear about what the rules are, and enforce them consistently and fairly each and every time.

4. Be sure that consequences are sensible. In some cases, consequences are natural. If a child misbehaves, the natural result is sometimes enough consequence. For example, if a child refuses to eat dinner, that child is likely to be hungry later. On other occasions, consequences should be logical. For example, if a child hits another child, a timeout or restriction of privileges is a logical consequence. To allow the natural consequence (a fistfight) would be irresponsible on the part of the parent. To punish by hitting would be illogical and abusive.

5. Remember that children are not just small adults. Avoid excessive strictness. Give your child leeway to explore, grow and learn independently. Behavior does not have to be perfect every moment of the day and night. If you train all the spontaneity out of your child, you will both miss out on lots of fun, and your child may face a very bleak future.

If you're expecting a baby now, it is not too soon to begin learning good parenting skills. Do your homework by reading highly-regarded books, watching videos, attending classes and learning from people who have impressed you as good parents in your own life. As you teach your child good behavior, you will learn and grow yourself. Taking the proactive step of becoming a responsible parent with well-behaved children is a decision that you will never regret. By demonstrating and teaching consistently good manners and behavior from the time that your child is a mere infant, you will make your job as a parent and your child's job as a human being much easier.