Grandparents Raising Grandchildren:
Books to Support Good Manners.
If you’re raising your grandchildren, you’re already in the thick of the battle. Good manners may be “caught” sometimes, but adults also have the responsibility to teach the behaviors we want to our grandchildren to learn. We need to be role models.
Once children understand the behaviors expected, it’s wise to skip the verbal reminders and fall back on outside sources to reinforce skills. In other words, children can tune out our reminders and scoldings, but they may respond positively to a story which encourages that same good behavior.
Here are some good resources to use with children of various ages as we encourage proper behaviors and manners:
Table Manners
Manners at the Table by Carrie Finn and Chris Lensch: This book is best for 4-8 year olds. The bright illustrations encourage children to talk about the polite ways to eat a meal.
Soup Should Be Seen, Not Heard! By Beth Brainard: This chapter book is excellent for very young children as well as primary aged kids. It features the Good Idea Kids and their dog, Vitamin. A wide range of manners are covered.
You’ve Got Manners by Louise Elerding: Polly Politely and Milton Manners walk children through situations requiring good manners for each letter of the alphabet.
Speaking Politely
How to Speak Politely and Why by Munro Leaf: This book has been updated and is not just for children. It teaches polite speech and correct grammar in a friendly, humorous way.
Every Kid’s Guide to Being a Communicator by Joy Berry: For children ages 6-12, this book is part of a series of 27 living skills books.
Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book by Richard Scarry: Kids love Richard Scarry’s busy books full of illustrations and funny characters. The book teaches much more than just please and thank you.
“In Public” Behavior
Everyday Graces by Karen Santorum: This anthology of stories and poems covers a wide variety of good behaviors for young children. Good for children aged three and up.
Good Manners in Public by Ann Ingalls: This book, written by an elementary and special education teacher, focuses on manners as respect and consideration of others.
Manners at a Friend’s House by Amanda Doering Tourville: How should kids behave at a friend’s home? Do they remove their shoes? How do they know the rules in a different home? For ages 4-8.
Good Sportsmanship
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn’t Everything by Howard Binkow: Part of a series of ten books on sportsmanship. Good for children four and up. Has tips at the end of the book for ways parents or grandparents can discuss the topic.
The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game by Jan and Mike Berenstain: Papa Bear coaches the team, but the other coach just wants to win. Will the little bears learn good sportsmanship?
The Kids’(and parents’ too) Book of Good Sportsmanship by Leslie A Susskind: This book was written for families to read together and discuss.
