However, there are several less common courtesies that can make an impressive difference in the way your children interact with other humans.

We'll share some of our favorites in four articles: ‘Accepting & Declining Favors’, ‘Requesting Favors’, ‘Attentive Conversation’ and ‘TableTime Manners’.

When you ask your child if he would like a banana and his answer is 'yes', do you accept a simple “Yes”, “Yeah”, “Uh-huh” as your answer?

Consider how much better it would be if he would say, "Yes, please" or “Yes, thank you.”

On the other hand, suppose your child doesn't want a banana. If he hasn't been taught otherwise, he is likely to answer with "Huh-uh”, “No” or “Nope”.

Instead, how about teaching him to use the more gracious, "No, thank you"?

Why? Because such little courtesies really do lubricate relationships.

• The giver feels pleased that he offered a favor to your child.
• He will be encouraged to do more of the same in the future, both for your child as well as for others.
• Your child understands that he has treated the giver with grace and dignity.
• These graceful expressions are teaching moments for similar situations in the future.

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And how do you teach such graces so they ‘stick’, and when do you begin?

• First, it’s never too early to start. Even before the child uses his own words, you can help him go through the motions, using your words.
• Then, be consistent. The truth is that inconsistency can have very long aftereffects. According to Dr. Sal Severe, a Phoenix, AZ researcher, a single adult ‘mistake’ can so encourage a strong-willed child that the adult may need to help the child use these courtesies correctly up to forty times before that child is convinced that crude answers aren’t going to work!

That’s all for now. In addition to more not-so-common courtesies, the next articles will offer more guidance on teaching children to use them consistently.