Old-School Etiquette Toolkit for Kids
Etiquette for kids doesn’t have to feel old-fashioned to work — it just has to be taught. 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
Vernon J. DeFlanders Sr.
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.
“My granddaughter is 9 and uses the Do vs. Don’t poster like a checklist. Last Sunday she stood up when my pastor came to the table. He nearly cried.”
— Grandmother of three, Atlanta, GA
“I’m a 5th-grade teacher and I made the etiquette sampler part of our weekly lesson. My students are quoting it back to each other in the cafeteria. Best $9.99 I’ve ever spent.”
— Elementary School Teacher, Knoxville, TN
“We’re raising our kids in a world that doesn’t model these things anymore. This toolkit gave me a way to teach them at home — without it feeling like a lecture.”
— Father of four, Phoenix, AZ
What’s Inside
1
Old-School Etiquette Sampler
A printable Do vs. Don’t poster covering greetings, table behavior, conversation, and respectful posture — written in language kids actually understand.
2
Table Manners Walkthrough
Step-by-step guidance on navigating the dining table — from “napkin in your lap” to “never reach across someone” — with illustrated do’s and don’ts.
3
Art of Social Interaction
How to introduce yourself, look someone in the eye, offer a firm handshake, and make a respectful first impression.
4
Decoding Formal Events
What to do at weddings, funerals, formal dinners, and church — clothing, behavior, conversation, and respect for the moment.
5
Digital Etiquette (Netiquette)
Old-school respect translated for the screen age — texting, posting, commenting, and being a good digital citizen.
6
Teacher & Parent Guide
How to introduce these standards as family or classroom values — without it feeling like a sermon.
Teacher & Parent Guide — How to introduce these standards as family or classroom values — without it feeling like a sermon.
How to Use It (7-Day Plan)
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Day 6 — Digital Etiquette Day
Read the Netiquette section together. Discuss one habit your child wants to change online — and why.
7
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.
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.
