Kids today, are involved in a lot of sports and being on the winning team is often the goal; but are we sometimes leaving out one of the most important components to a great match?

Sportsmanship means good manners in the arena. 

Children need to understand that sportsmanship is very, very important. For without sportsmanship, even with all the equipment and a beautiful arena and both teams present, we could not play any sports.

Understanding that showing our teammates respect, allows us to play together as a team.  We have to respect our competition, so that we have a contest and we have to respect the fans so that they come to witness and support the event. And of course, respect for the rules…teaching them that if there were no rules… there would be no sports!

Respecting yourself enough to enable respect for the other players, the coaches, and the fans….good sportsmanship is not only necessary for sports to be played, but also, necessary for a truly great game. 

Is the attitude of self-worth and the use of good manners related?

Self-worth is a learned attitude.  Self-worth may not be what some people think it is.  It is not about self importance or about being better than anyone else. Self-worth is rather about self confidence, which quite frankly is the opposite of self importance.

Self importance is based on insecurity. Self confidence is based on being very secure with who you are and in children, that attitude starts with how you teach them to treat themselves, i.e.… how they act, and treat others.

It is like the circle of life….through the action of using good manners, the attitude of self-worth is learned, and as it comes back around, self-worth is reflected in your use of good manners.

Saying please and thank you is probably the first lesson we teach our children, in the realm of mannerly conduct.  You may think this lesson is all about the action of your child saying these few words to you as the adult, but is this action more of a global event?

When you teach your child to say please and thank you, in effect, that is what will be the response.  However, your conscious lesson is much more than what is going on under your roof or around your kitchen table. …you are playing a much bigger role, in a much bigger plan, of carrying on and carrying out civilization.

You cannot have civilization without civility. The passing of this time tested courtesy is your part of not only building your personal legacy, but also, the legacy of your family……the human race.

What about kids and the expectation of manners?

A parent’s expectation of their child is very important.  Children look for guidelines, boundaries and rules from parents.  As parents, it is important that you do not let your children down by not providing these things.  Not only is it ok for you to have an expectation for your child, it is essential! 

Manners are part of those expectations.  However, your child cannot live up to those expectations, if they do not know what they are or if they only hear about the expectation when they miss the mark.

So we must be clear what the expectation is…..the teaching of manners must start in our homes…these lessons of self confidence are too important to leave to anyone else.

Kids will hit the mark a lot more often, when they clearly understand what the target is.

Sportsmanship  

These days, it seems the parents of children participating in sports, are getting in the face of the umpires, coaches and even players. Is this a simple act of anger or a larger act of disrespect?

It has always been the accepted custom of fans to cheer for their player or team. However, that does not include insulting their own or the opposing team, umpires, coaches, players, etc.  That type of conduct is considered unsportsmanlike.

Although behavior during the game is as important as the rules of play,

sportsmanship implies more than just playing the game. We all need to do our part to teach good sportsmanship in the game of life. Our children need to see us abiding by the rules of respect, in order to learn by example…our example.

So go ahead…. get in the game.

Hello and welcome to our blog!

This blog will help you to raise your children in a not-so-common-courtesy, world.  Each entry will be a thought provoking tip on children and manners; not from the perspective of how our children treat others, but rather, from the viewpoint of how our children treat and value themselves, first.    

Today’s tip: 

Teaching Children Manners

Today we see a lot of disrespect and not-so-common-courtesy from children. Why is it so important to teach our children manners?

When you teach your child to give up his/her seat  for an elderly person or to say please and thank  you or how to hold a fork properly…these are not just polite actions you are teaching, but rather you are teaching an attitude, an attitude of respect, an attitude of humility, and an attitude of appreciation.

The action of saying thank-you is just a result of the attitude of gratitude…therefore, these are not lessons so much of what to do…. but rather how to be…

As, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “If you bungle raising your children, it doesn’t matter what else you do well.”

For more on teaching children manners, you may enjoy our homeschool program. 

CLICK HERE to read more about it.

“My name is Phyllis Lowder, director of PACESC, Parent's

 Association for Christian Education in SC. I have been a

homeschool mom for 11 years.   I am writing today to share

with you a program that I am excited and passionate about. 

Every once in a while, a program comes along that not only

teaches our children academically, but also prepares them

socially and personally for the future.  As we are all aware,

we are living in a fast paced and often rude world.  Today,

manners are often not used...or even taught! 

The Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette is presenting

 "Your Manners Matter" homeschool curriculum.   It is my

recommendation that you give possible consideration of this

 program for the growth of your child."

Phyllis Lowder,

Director

Parent Association for

Christian Education in South Carolina
www.pacesc.com

Beginning in March 2008 we will give away monthly, one “Your Manners Matter®” Homeschool Program, complete with toolkit.  To register please check back, March 1, 2008. 

Please don’t forget to click the Contest button on this page to view the other contests offered by the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette.

Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette would like you to enjoy Lesson #2, “Why manners are important” from the Your Manners Matter Home School Program.  Please CLICK HERE to receive your FREE home school lesson.  Enjoy teaching your children this lesson in a fun and interesting way!

Welcome to our blog.  Check back soon for our weekly postings of etiquette tips, contests & items of interest!