There comes a time when parents need to take their children to visit friends, old acquaintances or relatives in a place far from home.
This is very common, but the etiquette that comes with it cannot be overlooked because children learn from every experience and event that unfolds before them.
Therefore, parents need to constantly monitor their behavior so that knowledge transfer can be effective, as learning can occur anywhere and at any time, things that children will effortlessly imitate and absorb.
Taking children to visit someone’s house is based on several reasons and objectives. It may be because they don’t have friends at home, which could be risky if left alone.
A child’s desire to join the visit cannot be negotiated, so they must be brought with them. Or it could be because parents like to take their children everywhere, even if it means having to deal with multiple belongings.
Whatever the reason for taking a child to visit another person’s house, it cannot be separated from the etiquette that must be observed because we do not know the nature and character of the host whose house we are visiting.
Is the host someone laid-back, unconcerned with less polite and messy behavior, or vice versa? Are you a neat freak, very concerned about order and cleanliness, so even a small mess can make you feel uncomfortable?
On the one hand, there is also a belief among some parents that when raising their children they should reduce supervision, prohibitions and the like, without considering the situation or environment in which these things occur.
Yes, it may not be a problem at home. But what if the less pleasant behavior occurs in someone else’s home? Of course, as parents, we need to set boundaries, including etiquette when our child is visiting or a guest in someone else’s home.
Here are some things to teach when taking children to visit:
- Knock on the door first, a maximum of three times. If there is no response, it is best to go home and come back another time.
- If the door opens, wait to be invited to sit before sitting down.
- Children should sit quietly in the chair provided, waiting for their parents’ business to be finished with the host.
- If a child wants something, he should whisper something to her parents and not interrupt the adults’ conversations.
- If you are offered snacks, take only a reasonable amount. Avoid reaching for or grabbing snacks repeatedly, even if the child likes them.
- Also, remind them to always include kind words like “I’m sorry,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” etc.
The children are still young, so it is important that there is some charity in their gestures. Still, this does not mean that they are free of rules or that they are allowed to be impolite when interacting with others. Because habits are substantially tutored from youth, so that they grow and become good people.
