For 20 years, health educator Sophie Schönhofer has been leading the course “Knigge for kids for everyday life and school” at the VHS Haar, which takes place on a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children aged eight to twelve can take part.
SZ: Do children need etiquette courses? You think it’s their right to misbehave.
Sophie Schönhofer: Children find it easier when they know what is appropriate and what is not. You will feel more comfortable and become more confident. I always say that they shouldn’t say they’ve taken a course, just be a role model. A mother once told me that they were on vacation with another family. The adults of these fellow passengers were amazed at how well the children behaved.
Sophie Schönhofer is a health educator and etiquette teacher for children at the VHS Haar.
(Photo: private)
What exactly do the participants learn?
It starts with the right greetings, shaking hands – in Corona times we do this with gloves and disinfectant – goes on to considerate behavior, for example when vacationing in a hotel, to the right amount that you put on your plate at the buffet, and that dignified behavior as a loser of a game. The course starts with the children playing Uno together to get to know each other. I generally don’t give long lectures, but we do as much practice as possible. I also like to make mistakes every now and then.
Why this?
It’s about giving children a sense of what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. I then give them my left hand to greet them, for example, or I don’t look them in the eye. Most of them then immediately notice that something is not likeable. We also do a lot of role play. At the end of the day, for example, one is the host and the others are the guests. Unfortunately, due to Corona regulations, we are not yet able to invite parents like we used to.
Good behavior at school is also on the agenda.
During the Corona period, of course, it’s about keeping your distance and walking the paths as mapped out. But also about being considerate, keeping the door open for the successors and asking politely before using any of their school supplies.
Has anything changed in the 20 years that you have been running the course?
I have the feeling that the longing for good behavior has grown. Of course, mostly children come to the course who have been prepared by their parents. Only once was there a girl who didn’t want to. She was allowed to stand at the door and watch. After a quarter of an hour she decided to take part after all.
But the course shouldn’t be prescribed as a punishment for bad behavior?
Absolutely no way! A friend of mine kept “threatening” her child with it: If you don’t behave, you have to take the course. That’s all wrong! The course is not a punishment, but a reward, in the spirit of Knigge, who sees respect for others as a motivation for good behavior.