An
opinion article in the New York Times reports on the importance of instilling good manners in our kids. The author is a pediatrician, and she observes that while "good manners" may seem like an outdated concept, teaching respect for others is still a core role for parents that has a major impact on a child's future functioning in the world.
My favorite quotes from the article:
“Every infant is born adorable but selfish and the center of the universe,” she [Miss Manners] replied. It’s a parent’s job to teach that “there are other people, and other people have feelings.”
" I like Miss Manners’ approach because it lets a parent respect a child’s intellectual and emotional privacy: I’m not telling you to like your teacher; I’m telling you to treat her with courtesy. I’m not telling you that you can’t hate Tommy; I’m telling you that you can’t hit Tommy. Your feelings are your own private business; your behavior is public."
Food for thought!