How to Correct Bad Manners at Home

There many books and websites parents can browse to find tips on how to teach their children good manners. However, correcting the bad manners of a spouse or another adult is another matter. Here's some suggestions to teach good manners to people of all ages.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Become the supreme example of good manners. Other adults in your home will notice and may follow your lead.

2. Teach the children in front of the other adult in the home. Tell them about Miss Manners and make a game of the learning. The misguided adult will learn just by being near you when you play your manners games.

3. Offer yourself up as a prude and tell the adults in your home that you are sorry that it bothers you so much. Tell them how specific bad manners make you crazy.

4. Leave a paperback book of manners in the bathroom. When there is nothing else to read, it surely will be perused. It will work even better if the book is a bit dog-eared, indicating that it has been well read because everyone has to learn good manners – they don't just come naturally.

5. Plan a formal dinner party and enlist the help of everyone in the house. Talk about the etiquette of dining while you prepare the event together.

6. Enlist the help of the adults in the home to teach the children good manners. With no reference to their own bad manners, ask the older folks to talk to the children about good manners so you don't always have to be the manners police all alone.

Resources

• Browse resources on raising children.
• Learn about educating children with good manners.
• Get a manners training kit for your child.
• Explore another resource for teaching manners.
• Read more advice from Disney's Family site.
• Visit the American School of Protocol site.