image via thelateafternoon
I’m reading that book that I had mentioned in this post, Bringing up Bebe. I’m actually enjoying it, but taking most of it with a grain of salt. It’s a pretty easy and entertaining read.
One thing that really stuck with me is when the author, Pamela Druckerman, talks about manners and what is taught to French kids. She says that generally speaking, American kids are taught to say “please and thank you,” and that’s the main stuff, but the French kids are taught two more things, bonjour and au revoir… yeah that’s right, “hi” and “bye.” What’s that you say? American kids are taught to say “hi” and “bye” too, duh, but hear me out.
In essence, greeting adults and acknowledging an their presence. She talks about how children saying “please” and “thank you” puts them in a children’s role, with an adult who is expected to do/have done something for them, but that saying “hi” is almost like a basic human courtesy.. that little sign of acknowledgement. Makes sense right?
My parents were hard asses about this. It didn’t matter if I was having a tantrum or if I was too tired, hungry or grumpy, when I saw an aunt, uncle, family friend whatever, I HAD to greet them. It wasn’t a big production, it was just “hi.” It’s a simple way to be polite and courteous. And it’s so funny because I find myself making Gabriel greet people, even if he can’t really do much. I still greet everyone, and with him, I just say things like “say hi to nana,” knowing that he won’t say a word.
I think its really important to get in the habit of manners from very early on, so that it’s not as difficult to introduce later in life. What do you think about that? Do you think it’s a little much to ask a kid to greet an entire room of adults? Or do you think it’s important? What are some other “manners” that you were taught? What are some manners that you teach your kids? I’d love to hear!
you might also like:
reply...
3 comments
Trackback & Pingback
-
a snack time | a sprouting acorn
[...] out another thing I learned in that book, here. And a car ride playlist I created, here that doesn’t ...
i love this! my parents were also pretty hard-assy when it came to greeting adults and answering them when they spoke to you. even now i take special notice when a young child or toddler says hello or goodbye. i understand some kids are shy (just as some adults are shy) but hello, goodbye, please and thank you should be the bare minimum that we require of our children…manners at their most basic.
I love this! Nothing would offend my parents or aunts and uncles more than to know that us kids didn’t come out of our rooms to say hi when they visited. Even if it was just a run-by kiss on the cheek with one eye still on the tv … it had to be done! I’m glad that you brought this up!