Shaping a child’s attitude always starts at home. It has always been the parents’ duty to teach their children to determine what is right and wrong. While children spend their first few years at home, there will come a time when they have to go out and learn in school.
That is why the Department of Education is eyeing the possibility of adding good manners, right conduct and proper values classes to the curriculum of the schools in the country, according to a report by the Inquirer.
DepEd Good Manners and Right Conduct Class Shows That Numeracy and Literacy Skills Are Not the Only Important Aspects of Education
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Parents have always valued a child’s numeracy and literacy skills. Good education means that their children can memorize, read, and write well.
However, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones during a press briefing at the DepEd central office in Pasig City last week, lessons in good manners and right conduct should be added in the first three years of schooling. She also added that children should “know how to say good morning, how to deal with other children… along with basic numeracy and reading skills”.
DepEd wants to strengthen the “basic skills” of children in their early grade levels. The focus will be on kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2. Other countries have already been implementing the changes and the Philippines has yet to follow suit.
She clarified that the proposal is not because the youth’s values are failing. Rather, it is because the world – the values of its society and the people in it (grow-ups) are changing. The lessons will prepare children to be grown-ups because they will soon become leaders as well.
Education Starts at Home
Teaching your children does not stop when they start going to school. Most certainly, it does not just start when they begin their schooling too! While DepEd’s plan is very beneficial, you cannot leave it all to their teachers. After all, your child still spends more time at home than in school.
Here are some tips on what and how to teach your children depending on their age:
Toddler stage
Parents might think that the toddler years are still too young but know that it is best to teach them manners as young as possible so they can live with it until they grow old.
- If your child is unable to speak yet, teach him or her to at least wave when saying hello or goodbye. Children can practice this by telling them good morning every day as well as greeting your spouse as he gets home from work.
- Teach your child the importance of staying seated while eating. Throwing food is also a big no-no.
- If your child can already speak, teach him or her to use magic words such as “thank you” and “please”. Of course, do not forget to teach how to use “po” and “opo”!
By the age of 3, you can already teach them the following:
- Teach him or her to follow simple table etiquette like using utensils properly, not using clothes to wipe his or her mouth, chewing with his or her mouth closed, avoiding talking while the mouth is full, sitting straight, and excusing himself or herself properly from the table once done eating.
- Add other polite words and phrases to his vocabulary like “excuse me” and “sorry”.
- Remind them to be nice to others. Your child should know when it is his or her turn and that it is wrong to grab things from other children.
Aged 5 and above:
Children this age have already learned some manners from their teachers at school though sometimes they fail to apply them especially at home.
- Tell them the importance of responding to adults and not looking at other places when being talked to.
- Teach them to not interrupt when others are speaking.
- Impart more sophisticated table manners such as not putting their elbows on the table and asking others to pass the food around instead of reaching for it.
- Teach them how to be kind and considerate of their peers and siblings by sharing and respecting their personal space.
What are the best way to teach these to your children?
- Tell them stories. It is better if you incorporate something your child likes to the story. Using stories will keep your child’s attention and interest.
- Put the lessons into music. Kids find body noises interesting. It demands extra effort from the parents but it will definitely pay off.
- Prepare rehearsals. Some kids learn best when they are in action. For example, in teaching them about table etiquette, you can host a rehearsal dinner.
- Most importantly, BE AN EXAMPLE. Teaching your kids these manners do not matter much if they do not see it in you. Remember: parents are a child’s first role model.
Children meet more people as they age. It is important for them to learn good manners at a very young age so they will not have a hard time adjusting to other people.
Considering the changes that DepEd have proposed, parents can be assured that they are not alone in raising polite and kind children.
What are your feelings about these changes? Let us know in the comments below.
Also READ: 12 Good manners all kids should learn starting from age 2!