Manners guides
Being a good guest
How to prepare kids for visits, playdates and sleepovers at other homes.
Ages 3 to 12
From about age 3, children can learn the basics of visiting: greet the hosts, follow the house rules and say thank you. By 8 or 9 they can manage a playdate or sleepover on their own.
Try this week with your kids
Noki suggests a first week of quests and rewards for your kids. You change what you like before you start.
Why it matters
Good guests are welcome back. Knowing what to do also makes visits less stressful for kids.
What to expect by age
- Ages 3 to 4
- Say hello and goodbye to the hosts.
- Play gently with their toys.
- Ages 5 to 6
- Ask before touching things.
- Help tidy toys before leaving.
- Ages 7 to 8
- Follow the house rules.
- Thank the host for the meal or the visit.
- Ages 9 to 10
- Manage a sleepover: tidy their things, offer to help.
- Ages 11 to 12
- Bring a small gift or card when visiting with family.
Ways to practice
- Talk through the visit in the car on the way.
- Practice 'Thank you for having me' at home.
- Agree on a quiet signal if they need a break.
Common mistakes
Expecting perfect behavior on a long visit.
Try instead: Keep first visits short and end on a high.
Correcting kids in front of the hosts.
Try instead: Use a quiet signal and talk later.
