Etiquette can be taught at a young age
Growing up, I loved being in a bridal party of a family member or a friend. I could not help but notice the party accompanying the new Duchess of Sussex. Six little bridesmaids and four pageboys, all under the age of 8. Princess Charlotte and Prince George were among them. It must have been an exciting time for all of the children who were chosen to be part of the event.
In the days leading up to the royal wedding, several commentators wondered how successful the procession would be with all the children involved. However, when the day arrived, I was pleasantly impressed by how well the little ones handled themselves. Later on, when magazines covering the wedding were published, I found an article detailing how one guest observed that at the start of the procession, one of the little girls “wanted to go.” Charlotte was overheard saying, “No, you can’t go yet. We have to wait until we are asked.” This might, in part, explain why everything seemed to run smoothly.
It is easy to conclude that because of her title, Princess Charlotte has an advantage over other girls her age when it comes to learning and mastering social graces. She has her parents to guide her as well as a full-time nanny who helps reemphasize these lessons until they come as second nature to the princess. At the young age of 3, Charlotte’s strong public presence and decorum cannot be ignored. But since she is a child, she knows how to be one and has been caught sticking out her tongue for the cameras! This then leads me to ask the question, “how young is too young to learn civility?”
They say that it's easier for children to learn a second language at a younger age. One could then argue that the same applies to etiquette. As the little ones are learning their first words, it is impressive how they can easily pick up words such as “please” and “thank you” at the same time and understand the context in which they are to be used. When they are playing with their siblings, we try and instil the value of playing “nice." From a young age, we teach them to ask instead of just grabbing at a toy from someone else’s hand, and we encourage them to share, which helps them make friends with other children they meet.
Once these lessons are taught, children can draw from these experiences and be pleasant companions from a young age. They are never too young to learn how to be considerate. As Princess Charlotte and her friends have shown, it is possible for them to not only be calm and take command of the situation, but they can also be an example and voice of caution for their peers who may need extra help occasionally. It is, therefore, essential to teach our young ones how to interact with others in a courteous manner early on.
