Old-School Etiquette Toolkit for Kids
The values your grandparents lived by — written for the children of today. Teach your child the old-school etiquette habits that build character: how to greet, dine, converse, and carry themselves with the kind of dignity that’s becoming rare. Built for parents, grandparents, and teachers who believe these values still matter — maybe more than ever.
Trust + Quick Proof
Author • Educator • Founder, MannersMatterNow.com
Vernon J. DeFlanders Sr. is the author of Teaching Kids Good Manners: The Old School Way and the founder of MannersMatterNow.com. He grew up in a generation where kids stood when adults entered the room, said “yes, sir” without rolling their eyes, and knew the difference between a salad fork and a dinner fork. He built this toolkit to pass those values forward — because the old ways still work.
How to Use It (7-Day Plan)
Day 1 — Open the Conversation
Show your child the cover of the toolkit. Ask: “What do you think old-school etiquette means?” Listen first. Don’t lecture.
Day 2 — The Sampler Poster
Read the Do vs. Don’t sampler together. Pick the one that surprised them most — that’s the one to focus on this week.
Day 3 — Greetings & Introductions
Practice walking up to a grown-up, looking them in the eye, offering a handshake, and saying their name back to them. Out loud, until it feels natural.
Day 4 — Table Manners Walkthrough
At dinner, work through the dining table guide one rule at a time. Make it a game, not a test.
Day 5 — Art of Social Interaction
Role-play meeting a new neighbor, saying hello to a teacher, and ending a conversation politely. These are skills — they need practice.
Day 6 — Digital Etiquette Day
Read the Netiquette section together. Discuss one habit your child wants to change online — and why.
Day 7 — Real-World Test
Take your child somewhere their etiquette will be visible — church, a restaurant, a family gathering. Debrief afterward. Celebrate what they did well.
