Guest Behavior
03/02/2009
Taking your children with you to overnight stays at a friend or relative’s house can be an enriching experience for young ones, but they’ll probably need to learn some ground rules before the visit.
“It’s important to share with children what to expect—and what’s expected of them—when they’re spending the night in someone else’s home,” says Jennifer Shu, M.D. an Atlanta-based pediatrician and editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics Baby and Child Health book.
Discuss house rules in advance.
• Remind your child that they’ll be in a place where they need to ask permission to do things, just as if they were at school, a restaurant or a store, says Dr. Shu, who suggests role-playing likely scenarios.
• If your child gets hungry or thirsty, remind her to ask for help instead of helping herself.
• If pets will be present, discuss when or if they can be approached.
• Review sleeping arrangements. Younger kids may be anxious about being in an unfamiliar room, so it’s probably easier to keep them near their parents, says Dr. Shu.
• Practice the social skills they’ve already learned at home, such as saying “please” and “thank you” and wiping their feet before entering the house.
Pack a few beloved belongings
“I never forget to bring a favorite blanket and stuffed animals for my sons,” says Michelle Rothmeyer, a mother of three in Wausau, WI. Comfort items like these can help ease visitor anxiety.
Offer “good manners” prizes
During the stay, reinforce etiquette lessons with simple rewards:
• Offer fun stickers.
• Promise a special post-trip story time.
• Give verbal kudos. “Praise by itself is a great reward,” says Dr. Shu.
With these tips, parents can help make an overnight stay a dream visit for everyone involved.
