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Home » Education

How to Teach Your Toddler Manners

Published by Laura W on September 26, 2017 | Updated September 26, 2017 | 11 Comments

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Teaching your toddler manners is always a good thing. Granted, you can’t expect your little one to learn and follow every. single. rule. of good manners, but you can work with them so they learn as they grow. Just remember that every toddler is different, and it might take some a little longer to learn than others.

If your child is slower to come around, that is okay! Keep working with them and they will eventually learn what you want to teach them. Even just conveying the idea of manners gives your toddler the tools to know what is appropriate or not. Your child will begin to learn what they can and can’t do by watching your reactions.
 

6 Steps to Teaching Manners to a Toddler

 

Be a Role Model

First and most important, be a role model to your child. You will quickly learn as a parent that your toddler watches your every move and even mimics you. This may seem obvious, but truly think about your own actions. When you ask for something, say “please” and “thank you.” Be courteous to others. Follow the rules and your toddler will follow your example.

Start with the Basics

To start off working on manners, start with the basics. Teach your child to say “please” and “thank you” when needed. It may be awhile before your toddler can say those words on their own, but if you begin teaching them now, it will only help in the future. When you hand your child a snack, encourage them to say “thank you.” Same goes for saying “please”: try saying it for them and if see they will repeat it.

Work on Cheerful Greetings

Greet loved ones warmly along with your child. Teach them to greet their guests with a smiling face and a happy “hello.” Get excited with them when someone comes over. Remember, they will watch your reactions and follow in your footsteps. This will help teach them it is exciting when Grandma and Grandpa come over! You can also teach them to wave and/or say “goodbye,” as well.

Teach How to Play and Share

It can be hard for toddlers to play nicely with each other! Work on enforcing simple rules like no fighting over toys, take turns, no hitting, etc. Teach your toddler that when someone else is playing with a toy that they want, they will have to wait. Simply say, “It is their turn to play, you have to wait.” Then offer a new toy for your child to play with while waiting. When the other child is done playing with the toy, say, “It is your turn now.” Again, this can be hard for toddlers to grasp, but your little one will learn in time.

Praise Your Child

When your child does something right, be sure to praise them! This shows your toddler that they did a good job and can boost their confidence. For example, if your child shares a toy, praise them greatly for it! That will help your toddler realize they did something right, making them more likely to repeat that action in the future.

Keep Your Expectations Reasonable

Remember, we’re talking about toddlers here. Each child will learn when they are ready, so keep your expectations reasonable. You can’t expect a 1- or 2-year-old to act like an adult! Every toddler is unique, and the process will take time. Keep working with your child, but don’t stress if it takes a little time for them to learn manners. They’ll get there eventually!

  • About the Author
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Laura W

Laura is a former high school English teacher turned avid deal shopper following the birth of her first child. Now she’s a work-from-home mom of six which keeps her plenty busy! On the off chance she gets some free time you’ll find her with her nose in a book, spending time with family and friends, or enjoying a hot cup of coffee.

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  1. Hali says

    September 28, 2017 at 3:18 am

    Great tips!! The best one is very much leading by example. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Diane Hoffmaster says

    September 28, 2017 at 8:04 am

    Very good tips! Definitely start early and reinforce good behavior. Then, when they get to be teens, they wont need so many reminders!

    Reply
  3. Brandy says

    September 28, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    This really is a good list on ways to teach your toddler manners. I used to be the example, when they were babies on up until about age 9 I was a great example of manners then as the trio got older I slacked off. I would advise parents stay on track best they can to set the example of proper manners throughout all of childhood 🙂

    Reply
  4. Clair Boone says

    September 28, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    Good tips! I’m always emphasizing about being kind to others over and over and over! Realizing though that a 2 year old isn’t going to act as well as a 14 year old is my biggie too. I can expect too much and then realize they’re only little!

    Reply
  5. Desiree Lopez says

    September 28, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    These are all great tips! I think being a great role model is a perfect place to start. It’s great when there are siblings to mimic as well. Kids always learn so much faster from other children.

    Reply
  6. Julie Wood says

    October 2, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Be a good role model is so important and these are all good tips to teaching good manners. It needs to be taught at an early age and reinforce good behavior is the key!

    Reply
  7. Cynthia R says

    October 4, 2017 at 10:54 am

    We had a hard time with NO! and sharing. I like the advice you gave in this post.

    Reply
  8. Sarah L says

    October 8, 2017 at 10:43 pm

    Do what I do and not just what I say…. Very good tips.

    Reply
  9. rochelle Haynes says

    October 9, 2017 at 7:44 am

    This sounds great to me

    Reply
  10. Dandi D says

    October 17, 2017 at 5:58 am

    I have a toddler right now and these are some great tips!

    Reply
  11. Danielle Porter says

    November 19, 2019 at 8:10 pm

    Great post. Keep it simple and lead by example. I always modeld manners and told my son to say please and thank you even before he could talk.

    Reply

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