Manners Practice

There was no school today. Instead, we were having manners practice.

This has been long overdue. At this point in the quarantine it's way more important than school.

Not going to name names, but one of the children used a bath towel as toilet paper the other day. We aren't even out of toilet paper. Owen is just that gross.

We talked about manners that they are already good at (saying Please and Thank-You) and why manners are important. We talked about adults being polite and impolite, and how good manners are both character-forming and a sign of respect.

And then we practiced.

Oh, did we have fun practicing. First, J and I demonstrated some "poor manners" scenarios. They were all set at church. James hid under the table and said "I can't watch this." Owen yelped nervously and kept on ducking.

All of the enacted scenarios were based on true events. No names were changed in the retelling of these little dramas.

I played a running child who ignored adult greetings, refused to make eye contact, mumbled under his breath, and grabbed his crotch. (And sucked his fingers.)

J only responded to adult greetings by asking if there was candy out yet. She poked busy adults repeatedly. She did not answer questions. She was painfully shy when she didn't know someone's name.

At point Owen was almost underneath his chair.

"How does the crushing burden of guilt feel, Owen?"

"POOR."

The kids practiced each of the "scenarios" and did okay. James still needs to make eye contact. Owen needs to give a little more personal space. Felix needs to not thrust Big George in people's noses.

I told an amusing story of a certain little boy who wouldn't answer any adult questions directly but would have his own "George" answer on his behalf.

James: "And that boy doesn't like hearing stories about himself."