Importance of society and etiquette education in children

Parents are closely interested in the mental, psychological and physical development of their children from birth. However, a healthy development includes social development as well. However, parents may not be too concerned about this need of children until they have problems at school age, and children who can adapt to social environments with the support of their parents at a younger age may experience great difficulties with their school enrollment.

Not knowing the rules of society and etiquette and not acting according to them is one of the situations that affect social communication the most. Because the individual can take part in a society and be accepted as a result of applying these unwritten rules. Society and etiquette, like other rules, should be taught from a very young age. The child will continue to develop and use these gains in every period of his life. These rules, which are learned from an early age, will help individuals to adapt more easily to the communities they live in and to be approved and accepted. Although there are rules that may vary from society to society, etiquette in general forms the basis of interpersonal communication.

Like any basic education, society and etiquette education begins in the family. It will help the family at this point to remember that children carefully record what is happening around them. In order to teach their children the rules of society and etiquette, the best way of teaching is that parents know these rules and act accordingly. In studies on social adaptation, the importance of parents' behaviors has emerged. Children who are brought up in a democratic environment, within the framework of love and respect, are not only respected and respected in the future, but also grow up as individuals with healthy human relations and high self-control skills. The behavior of children in society will be close to the attitudes and behaviors of their parents. For this reason, it is important for their parents to behave in the same way they want their children to behave in the society.

Teaching the rules to the child is accomplished by supporting positive behaviors and correcting negative behaviors as well as being a model. It should be consistent, and directing the child to positive behaviors should be considered together with exhibiting exemplary behaviors. In addition to these, it is important for parents to be consistent among themselves when teaching these rules to their children. The overlap of parents' responses or rewards will help the child set clearer boundaries on what he can and cannot do.

While teaching your child etiquette, you should also take care not to embarrass him in public. If there is a situation that really needs to be warned, it would be best to explain it to your child on the sidelines, not in public. Otherwise, your child who is embarrassed and angry may turn to do the opposite of what you want.

We can list the basic etiquette rules that children should follow as follows:

• Sitting at the table with the family and not playing the game at the table.

• Saying 'Health to your hands' after eating.

• Thanking and apologizing.

• Saying good morning and good night.

• Not talking with a bite in your mouth.

• Covering your mouth when sneezing or yawning.

• Treating guests well means welcoming them.

• Not to litter or pollute places outside

• Do not speak loudly in public.

• Not making fun of people.

• Learning to share with friends and being compatible.

• Waiting for someone else to finish speaking while they are talking. If you have something urgent to say, start by saying "Sorry".

• When entering a closed room, knocking on the door and waiting for an answer from inside.

• Sometimes the child will try to exhibit different behaviors other than what they have learned from their parents. In this way, he tries to measure how much his close environment can tolerate him. This will give the child important clues about what behaviors he can take part in social life.

As a result, as in all other knowledge and skills, the foundations of society and etiquette should be laid in the family from an early age. The etiquette rules that parents apply both among themselves and in their social circles will be a reference point for children to learn these rules. When appropriate, explaining the correct behaviors with their reasons will help children learn these rules.