Emily Post's The Guide to Good Manners for Kids

by Cindy Post Senning, Peggy Post, Steve Bjorkman

Since 1922, the name Emily Post has represented good manners based on kindness, courtesy, and unselfishness. Today, the third generation of Post authors, Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning, offers the children of the twenty-first century a comprehensive guide to good manners. This book is full of the simple, practical advice that Emily herself would have offered. Written with kids in mind and full of bold illustrations, emily post's the guide to good manners for kids is a reference guide that children will use and parents can trust. It covers just about every situation a kid will Emily Post's The Guide to Good Manners for Kids has all the information on etiquette busy children -- and busy parents -- will need as they go about their daily lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Parenting

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Cindy Post Senning, Ed.D. is Emily Post’s great-granddaughter and a director of The Emily Post Institute. newest book for children is Emily Post's Table Manners for Kids (Collins, May 2009) co-written with Peggy Post.

Cindy’s educational background and expertise in etiquette uniquely qualify her to write definitively on the subject of children’s manners in the 21st century. Her writing and recommendations are based on the concept of introducing specific manners at certain developmental stages in a child’s life.

In February 2008, Emily Post’s Children’s Etiquette Train the Trainer Program was launched with Cindy as its premier presenter. Cindy developed the program and conducts this unique and intensive three-day training for etiquette professionals twice each year.

In the past three years, Cindy has completed two nationwide book tours, conducting manners workshops for children in public and private schools and libraries, as well as making bookstore appearances and giving media interviews. The 2006 tour for Emily’s Everyday Manners was sponsored by The Children’s Place and Parents magazine. The 2004 book tour for The Guide to Good Manners for Kids was sponsored by Betty Crocker, Horizon Organics and Parents.

Cindy and Peggy have also co-authored The Gift of Good Manners: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind, Considerate Children; The Guide to Good Manners for Kids; Emily's Everyday Manners; Emily’s Magic Words; and Teen Manners: From Malls to Meals to Messaging and Beyond. All are part of a ten-book children’s series, which is being published by HarperCollins.

Cindy’s professional background includes more than 30 years in education and health care. She holds a doctorate and master’s in education, both from the University of Vermont; and a degree in nursing from Cornell University. Cindy resides in Waterbury, Vermont, with her husband John. They have two grown sons.

Reviews

[Christine Gustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated, but great!

[Veronica]

I'm working on creating a booklist for my local public library. This book was one in consideration for this list.

I am not putting this on my list. Maybe I'm starting to sound a bit hypocritical, but I'll tell you something. This book has ingrained religious ideas about etiquette that I'm not comfortable putting on the list. The library this list is going to serves a multi-cultural, multi-religious community.

Also, the etiquette is manners for manners sake. It's not very practical, it's just to appear high falutin'. I don't think the manners she goes over in her book will be helpful to anyone.

Here's another big reason, though. I don't know/can't think of a single kid that would pick up this book and think what she says in it is a good idea. So while it does cover the subject matter directly, and it has some good ideas behind, as in principles, it is not realistic to believe a kid would read it. It would be dead space on the list.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read-aloud for you and your children. It will teach or remind them how to behave in a variety of social situations.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written for a tween age. I would go back to it in a few years to help teach O some manners. The items described were dealing with friends, simple gestures when out in public, and how to behave at home. I would break these down into smaller sections and start them at age 5 when a child starts going to school and doing chores around the house. We already try to teach O manners at the playground but at age 2 she hears words but doesn't always respond to what is being said.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a guide for kids younger than ten. Almost all the tips they give are probably already gleaned from parents, and they repeat a lot of information in different sections. The book was written well and in a cheery way, but it was not a very interesting or captivating read.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

im not really into manners but it teaches you stuff???

[Alina Burk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for a reminder or a place to start. Included safety tips, as well.

[Gabriella Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmmmmmm... This is a pretty funny manners book!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us don't give much thought to etiquette on a daily basis because we've been practicing good manners our whole life and they just come naturally. We can teach our children good manners by leading by example, of course, but having books to reference is always a good idea.

This book covers everyday topics and a few tougher ones (such as divorce of parents or when someone dies). What I love about the Emily Post books is that they are written in a way that is approachable and thoughtful. The idea is that etiquette helps us to get along with others in a way that is respectful and considerate of everyone's needs.

A book like this may not be the first book a child reaches for, as it is a reference book, but it's something you can read together, a few pages at a time or keep on hand for when a certain situation arises. I think the best audience for this book is children aged 5-12.