Your child’s Montessori daycare embraces the concepts of culture, and teaching grace and courtesy are cornerstones on the Montessori Method. One way that culture and good manners can be taught in unison is by learning to be polite using the words of different languages and cultures.
Introducing A Larger World
Daycare children have a limited concept of the world they live in. As they are exposed to aspects of the larger world, that perception increases. By teaching them the words associated with grace and courtesy in other countries, you can broaden their horizons while teaching them that being polite is a global idea.Kindness is Universal
People use social etiquette all over the world. Start with a map of the world and focus on the countries that students in the class have cultural ties to. This allows you to combine geography, culture, and language into seamless learning.Asking Politely
In English, we say “Please” to ask for permission, but the same courtesy is displayed using different words and phrases worldwide. Spanish is recognized as a second language in the United States, but other languages are commonly used as well:- Spanish - Por favor
- German - Bitte
- French - S’il vous plaît
- Japanese - Kudasai
- Vietnamese - Xin
Showing Gratitude
Just as other cultures have words to ask courteously, they also have words to demonstrate gratitude when permission is given. The examples used here are commonly spoken in America, but there the sentiments are found in almost every language spoken in the world: - Spanish - Gracias
- German - Danke
- French - Merci
- Japanese - Domo arigato
- Vietnamese - Cám ơn
Explore the World
Use the words given here as a starting point, and then expand on them to discover how to use good manners in other parts of the world as well. Russian, Korean, and Italian are also commonly spoken, but learning about culture does not have to limited to those. Swahili, for example, is a colorful language originating in a country with a vastly different culture than traditional European and Asian lands.
Grace and courtesy are used around the world, and learning how to be polite in other countries is an exciting way to teach young children. These lessons can be combined with things like trying foods from the countries being studied or learning about music and dance in far-off places.
