Manners Matter: Ages 5 to 8

House Manners

The Right Foot

Being polite in your house is a good way to show your family you care about them. It is also good practice for how to treat others when you're away from home. When you pick up your toys in the living room, you show respect for others. When you say "please," you show respect for your parents and your siblings.

Civil Action

Read and consider the following situations, then decide which responses are good ones. There may be more than one correct response to each situation. If you need help reading, ask your helper. Discuss each possible response with your helper, and explain why you selected or rejected it.

Situation A

Your father is bringing groceries in from the car.

1. You do not look up from the game you are playing.
2. You hold the door for him when he comes in and out.
3. You ask if you are big enough to carry any bags.
4. You turn the TV down while he brings the bags inside.

Situation B

You arrive at the breakfast table after waking up on a school morning.

1. You say good morning to your family at the table.
2. Your hair is combed and you are wearing clean clothes.
3. Your pick your nose.
4. You are not in good mood, so you don't speak at all.

Situation C

Someone is in the bathroom, and you need to get in.

1. You bang on the door and yell.
2. You knock and say you need to come in.
3. You ask politely if the person inside can hurry.
4. You barge in without knocking.

Situation D

You have been playing with toys or a game, and it's almost time for dinner.

1. You pick up your toys and put them away before dinner.
2. You stop playing and go wash your hands.
3. You say you're not hungry and ignore your parents.
4. You ask if you can help set the table.

Situation E

A neighbor stops by to visit your parents.

1. You start combing your hair on the couch.
2. You look the person in the eye and say, "Hello, how are you?"
3. You offer the guest a seat.
4. You stare at your feet.

Situation F

Your brother or sister is playing with a toy that belongs to you.

1. You snatch it out of his or her hands.
2. You yell, "That's mine!"
3. You ask him or her to please not use your toys without first asking.
4. You smile and say, "May I play, too?"

Situation G

You are ready to go to bed.

1. You say goodnight to your parents.
2. You brush your teeth and wash your face.
3. You go into your room and slam the door.
4. You take a bag of cookies to bed with you.

Situation H

You have brushed your teeth in the morning.

1. You leave the cap off the toothpaste for the next person.
2. You rinse the sink to wash away any toothpaste.
3. You put your toothbrush up to dry.
4. You wipe off any water that splashed onto the counter.

Extra Polish

Look through magazines or catalogs. Cut out pictures that show people using good manners and bad manners. Put the pictures into a bag. With a friend, take turns removing the cutouts from the bag and explaining why they show good or bad manners.

Finishing School

Share

• What was easy or hard about identifying good manners and bad ones?
• Why does it feel good to be thoughtful?

Process

• If you are having a good time, why isn't it always fun for other people?
• How does having good manners help your day go more smoothly?
• Why is it important to be just as nice to people you know as it is to people you don't know?

Generalize

• Why is it important how other people feel?

Apply

• Describe how you could use some of the household manners you learned at school or in a public place.