EURweb |
POLISHED STONES ETIQUETTE: Telephone Manners
How many times have you called someone’s home, only to have a two year old answer repeatedly, hello, hello, hello and then hang up? While this may seem cute and adoring to parents or other family members, it can cause an important caller to become frustrated or important information to be missed. My rule of thumb when it comes to the telephone is, children should not be allowed to answer or make calls until they are old enough to write messages. Children should be taught at an early age that the telephone is an instrument for communication and not a toy.
Rules for using the telephone can vary from house to house. While there are certain ground rules as to what is acceptable or not, parents must decide what is appropriate for their particular situation. Here are some basic rules for teaching children the proper use of the telephone:
When receiving a call:
* Hello is always appropriate: A cheerful hello when answering the phone is never wrong.
* Do not scream for the intended party: If the call is for someone else, it is rude to yell to the other party that the phone is for him/her. Instruct your child to go find the other person and let him/her know.
* Do not reveal unnecessary information: Children should be instructed to never let unknown callers know that they are home alone. Simply say, “Mom cannot come to the phone right now,” is sufficient.
* Take a message: Parents should remember to have paper and pen near the telephone for children to take messages. All messages should include the caller’s name and telephone number.
When making a call:
* Identify yourself and use please and thank you when asking for your party. The basic rules of manners apply when asking to speak with someone. Something like, “This is Karen, may I please speak with Pamela ?” is better than, “Is Pamela there?”
* Ask permission before using the phone. Parents should instruct children to receive permission before using the telephone. This rule can also help parents to teach children the appropriate times to call people.
Often first impressions are made on the telephone, so it always pays to remember our manners when using the phone. It is very important for parents to teach their children the proper use of the phone and to emphasize the importance of this instrument to create endless possibilities for communicating with others. Encourage your children to use good telephone manners, everyone who calls your home will appreciate being met with courtesy on the line. Remember, “People are like diamonds, they sparkle once they are polished.”
Angela Carr Patterson is an etiquette consultant and the owner of Oasis Promotions, a model/talent consultant company. A popular speaker for events and conferences, Angela travels the country conducting her Polished Stones Etiquette Workshops and Manners for the King’s Children workshops.
Visit: www.oasispromotions.net
Email: Angelapatterson@oasispromotions.net
.jpg)
