Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome. Are your kids ignoring you? Our video has the best tips to get them to listen.
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public. And caring about others is what manners is all about. Many believed that proper manners would become less important. Our passion is to serve and bring the best possible positive information, news, expertise and opinions to this page. Does your child need help practicing manners?
When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had. Does your child know what to say when she answers the phone?
Get tips on teaching her to answer politely and effectively. When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling. Writing thank-you notes is an important skill. See how to help your kids say "thanks" the right way. Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive.
In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect. Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.
Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel. Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best. If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help.
If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.
When someone helps you, say "thank you. This is especially true with teachers! Do your kids have bad table manners? Help your kids learn how to behave at mealtime. Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.
Can't get your kids to pitch in around the house? As society has changed, so have rules for proper behavior.
After World War I — , society became more open as roles of women began to change. Many believed that proper manners would become less important. In , Emily Post published the most popular book on etiquette for society, business, politics, and home and family. Her book became the model for thousands of others since then. The sixteenth edition of Etiquette was published in Instead of decrying the lack of etiquette among Americans, Post applauded their youthful enthusiasm and sought only to refine it. She claimed that improvements in taste in home decoration were evidence of progress.
She also pointed out other examples of improvements; for instance, unlike earlier times, weddings no longer had to be set by noon for fear that the bridegroom would no longer be sober after that hour. There are still many writers on etiquette and manners. Some of the most popular include Miss Manners, or Judith Martin, who presents her comments in several types of media; Letitia Baldridge, who was particularly influential during the late s; Sue Fox, who joined the "dummies" series with her Etiquette for Dummies ; and Emily Post's great granddaughter-in-law, Peggy Post.
Many manners commentators agree that although society and manners changed before World War II — , the changes since then have amounted to nearly a revolution, and writers have created etiquette rules for the new situations. One way to describe the difference is that rules of etiquette are no longer for how to behave properly in a restricted society, but to provide knowledge of ways to put others at ease.
Few people now have to deal with servants, mansions, or elaborate entertainment, but they still have to deal with difficult or unknown situations in business or the community. American society has also become much less formal. One simple yet indicative example of the change is the proper greeting. Instead of the formal "How do you do," "hello" is now considered appropriate. Also, earlier it was not considered proper for a girl or woman to walk alone. Etiquette delineated when she should be accompanied by a woman her age, by an older woman, or by a man.
Today, the advice not to walk alone would be a safety concern. Probably the greatest change since the s has been in the relationship between men and women toward greater equality. Lord Chesterfield once declared that no provocation whatever could justify any man not being civil to any woman.
However, as folk singer Joan Baez is credited with saying, "If I have a baby in one arm and a guitar in the other, I'm not going to say no to a man who offers to open the door for me. There are etiquette books and Web sites for nearly every subject imaginable. The arena of most concern appears to be the proper manners and etiquette for weddings.
A large bookstore may carry over titles related to wedding planning, the event, and the honeymoon. Other titles reflect changes in American society and cover everything: The coverage demonstrates the changes in society but also demonstrates the continued concern about how to behave appropriately.