Evening star., 1941-05-19
Children
Initiate
Adults
Parents Example
Sets a Standard
For Manners
By Lettice Lee Street,

Do you know any one like this?
She exhaustS herself by rushing
around her house busting, cleaning
and polishing with nervous speed
the entire day before she expects
friends to call, or when she has
invited some one to dinner. Be-
tween times she is a rather in
different housekeeper. She makes
a special point of having her hair
done and her nails manicured the
day that she is asked out, and
lets herself 60" the rest Of the
time. She snaps at her husband
and her children, and then when
the telephone rings her voice utn-
dergoes a miraculous change and
drips with honey as she talks.
All this describes what I think
is called company manners" Such
a practice should not be, particu-
larly If there are children in the
family What a child sees and
hears around him in his daily life
teaches him good or bad manners
without his realizing it. The oc-
casional admonition to be polite
because special guest is coming
to the house will only confuse q
young child, not train him.
Now, of course, all small children
have to be told over and over to
speak politely. TO hold their knives
and forks correctly, keep their ell
bows of the table and on and on.
But we are speaking here OF some
thing deeper than this; we are
talking about the fundamentals
of good manners, which are kind
ness and consideration of others.
These should be q daily habit, and
not a pose put on to impress the
stranger.
If a child sees the members Of
his family being rude to each other,
or slovenly in their appearance and
habits when they are alone, his
parents cannot expect him to be
courteous and tidy when guests are
present. The young child has not
yet learned adult guile, and he is
still honest and unaffected. He
will behave towards Daddy's boss
just exactly as ne behaves towards
Daddy himself. Children do not
pretend, and this is one reason why
they are so endearing.
II small Johnny sees his father
hold the door open for his mother.
or watches him show her any one
OF the attentions that a courteous
man extends toward a woman, then
Johnny will behave the same. The
results may not show until he is
quite a big boy, but they will GER
talnly show before he is a man.
If a little girl sees her mother
gentle and considerate Of her
father; if she watches her arrange
the evening paper on the arm of his
favorite chair or perform any other
such small service; if she hears her
say Thank you" when he helps
her or with her coat, and is brought
up IN an atmosphere where thought
fulness is taken for granted, she will
unconsciously absorb the spirit of
her home and will probably grow
up to be appreciative and helpful
herself.
A young child is guided much
more by our actions than by our
words, and the environment we
build for our children will make
them either gentlemen or Doors:
1t is up to us!
Have you questions to ask con-
cerning the care Of your baby?
We suggest that you send for .
copy Of Infant Care" Children's
Bureau Publication Ne. 3, United
States Department Of labor, to
aid you In raising . healthy,
happy youngyter. Send 10 cents
with your order 70 The Evening
Star Infsrns&3on Bvreea teday.