Playful Ways to Teach Manners in Preschool

Manners begin forming in the earliest years of life. Simple habits — like saying “please” and “thank you,” waiting for a turn, or cleaning up after play — help children learn how to live and learn together. And they are essential to a preschool classroom ripe for joyful, playful learning. Just like literacy or math readiness, basic manners benefit from intentional practice.

Preschool classrooms are the ideal setting for this practice. Surrounded by peers and guided by caring teachers, children can experiment with courtesy in ways that feel playful and natural. When we approach manners not as rules to memorize but as joyful habits to build, children are far more likely to embrace them.

Here are a few playful ways to weave manners into everyday routines:

1. “Magic Words” Tag

A simple twist on a playground favorite. When tagged, children can only rejoin the game by saying a “magic word” like “please,” “thank you,” or “excuse me.” It’s fun, fast-paced, and reinforces manners in a positive way.

2. Puppet Role-Play

Puppets are wonderful stand-ins for social practice. Teachers can stage mini skits —“What happens if Puppet forgets to say thank you?”— and invite children to guide the puppet toward polite choices. This lowers pressure while building empathy.

3. Cleanup Songs with a Twist

Transition moments are prime teaching opportunities. Pair cleanup with a catchy song that includes prompts like, “Say thank you to a friend who helped” or “Show respect by pushing in your chair.” Routines become rituals of courtesy.

4. Kindness Tickets

Hand out small slips (stickers or tokens work, too) when children notice and name manners in each other: “I saw Maya share the crayons.” This builds peer awareness and celebrates social habits without adult lecturing.

5. Storytime Manners Hunt

During read-alouds, pause to ask: “Did the character use kind words? What could they have said instead?” Stories become springboards for social learning, making abstract concepts concrete.

Manners aren’t about strict etiquette — they’re about helping children learn to live, play, and learn together. By embedding manners into play and daily routines, preschool teachers model respect, kindness, and responsibility in ways that feel joyful and natural.

About the Author 

Laureen Reynolds is Highlights Early Learning's Director of Product and a former preschool teacher.