Good Manners for Today's Kids: 101 Ways to Teach Your Child the Right Things to Say and Do

Bob Barnes and his wife, Emilie, are the founders of More Hours in My Day time-management seminars and coauthors of numerous books including Together Moments for Couples and 15-Minute Devotions for Couples. Bob is also the author of the popular 15 Minutes Alone with God for Men and 5-Minute Faith Builders for Men. Emilie Barnes is the author of 70 books, including 101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter; Heal My Heart, Lord; and 15 Minutes Alone with God. She appears on more than 300 radio stations as host of "Keep It Simple." Emilie and her husband, Bob, are also the founders of More Hours in My Day time-management seminars.

Bob and Emilie Barnes’ latest book, Good Manners for Today’s Kids, provides a neat little guide for kids (and their parents) who need to improve their social graces. In a society where few families dine together, let alone concern themselves with manners, even parents may not know how to model good social behavior. Going well beyond simply teaching which fork goes where when setting the table, this handy book also provides instruction on other etiquette issues, such as acting as host and communicating graciously.

Addressing the more well-known don’ts, such as talking with your mouth full of food, Good Manners also covers the more difficult and less often practiced skills of respectful communication and dining out. Subjects even include how to be a reliable friend, and dating do’s and don’ts. A series of instructional lessons are followed by “Kid 2 Kid” sections, which encourage children of all ages to get involved in learning new guidelines. Having written several books on manners and effective communication, the authors are drawing on a lifetime of teaching about respect in order to bring families a guide they can go to for answers about behavior at the home table or etiquette when out in public.

The authors point out that such a book is necessary because, “There is an undercurrent of disrespect among members of the younger generation. … By teaching your children what respect looks and feels like, and where it comes from, you will give them tools to lead, follow, listen, serve, communicate, persevere, share their faith and stand firm for their principles.” They go on to point out that manners can be learned at any age, and they provide several easy to follow lessons. They even explain how to deal with specific food items when dining out (did you know you shouldn’t use a spoon to twirl your spaghetti?).

All in all, this little book is a very helpful reference for teaching children and their parents the basics of etiquette, good manners, and respectful behavior. The lessons are short and easy-to-read. Parents are expected to engage actively with their children in the “Kid 2 Kid” sections in order to reap their full benefits; they are not intended to be independent studies. This book is recommended for all typical modern families. – Dr. Jan Wallace Reber, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com