As parents who want the best for our children, most of us try to look ahead for what they will need, and maybe put aside a “nestegg” to give them a little advantage later on.

    But one of the best investments a parent can make doesn’t have anything to do with money. We can give our children a real advantage in life by teaching them good manners. The positive impressions and pleasant interactions well-mannered children receive from others pays off in giant dividends in confidence and self-esteem.

    Parents find all sorts of ways to accomplish this: having dress-up dinners just for the family so the kids feel at ease in a formal situation; teaching kids how to politely address grown-ups; making sure children know how to conduct themselves in public.

    It takes diligence—sometimes even a little creativity—but the results are outstanding. Give your kids the reassurance that they know how to behave themselves in all kinds of situations.