Introduce preschoolers to manners through picture books. Share books with preschoolers that discuss manners, courtesy and kindness. Look for age-appropriate books for preschoolers like "Manners at School" by Carrie Finn and Chris Lensch and "Manners Can Be Fun" by Munro Leaf.
Role-play with stuffed animals to help teach preschoolers about manners. Set up a pretend tea party with preschoolers and teddy bears and practice taking turns saying "please" and "thank you" as you request and receive food. Continue this practice during preschool mealtimes. Alternatively, use puppets instead of stuffed animals.
Play turn-taking games with preschoolers to help them learn to wait and take turns. Play card games like Old Maid or Go Fish or play a board game like Chutes and Ladders with preschoolers. In each game, the preschooler is required to wait patiently while each child takes his turn before taking his own.
Arrange play dates for preschoolers with other preschoolers. Play dates provide opportunity for adults to help children practice manners as they experience how to take turns and to share during play. Use play dates to help preschoolers practice greeting others verbally and saying sorry when another child gets hurt during play.
Be a role model for good behavior. Preschool children observe everything that adults around them do and are impressionable. Display good manners, kindness, patience and generosity each day to serve as an example for preschoolers and remind them about the proper way to behave. Give reasons behind the manner, such as "I use my napkin to wipe my hands so that my shirt won't get dirty."
Remind children when they use inappropriate manners. Gently guide preschoolers toward the appropriate behavior. For example, a child might say "I want more ketchup." Direct the child by saying, "Did you mean, 'May I have more ketchup, please'?" Ignore bad behavior. Instead, use positive reinforcement such as praise when preschoolers use polite behaviors and manners on their own.