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Teaching Kids
Modern Etiquette In a Digital Generation
BY AMELIA ROESSLER
W hat’s the one thing that will never break, gets better with age, and will last a lifetime? Good manners. That’s why Susan Ellis has brought her company, Good Manners Consulting, to Colorado families. From first impressions to leadership presence to social skills and digital etiquette, Susan wants to help kids excel in life. WHY GOOD MANNERS? Susan founded Good Manners five years ago to teach kids proper communication, social media, and life skills. “It’s giving kids the confidence just to go out there and present the best versions of themselves,” she explains. The whole idea started when Susan, who had lived in Australia her whole life until five years ago, met “the most gorgeous American man on the planet” and moved to the US. When they were married, he had teenage daughters at the time and she noticed they lacked confidence and social skills. When she couldn’t find anyone to possibly help or teach them like she had been taught in school, Susan decided the solution was right in front of her: to become a consultant herself. “What I teach is what I grew up learning,” Susan explains. “It’s the most powerful skill anyone can possess, because once you have that power under your belt, you can do anything.” IT’S NOT JUST OLD-FASHIONED This is Susan’s first year offering Colorado parents an etiquette camp and classes for their children—a weeklong program of four-
TEACHING DIGITAL ETIQUETTE With our world filled with technology, Susan believes the younger generation is becoming lazy when it comes to gaining information and socializing. She says that because everything is so simple and on a screen, people don’t know how to socialize. Instead of building a real community of friends, kids build online communities. “When you talk to young people, it’s confusing. They speak, they’re articulate, but they’re not speaking from experience; they’re speaking from what they’re seeing online. You can see a real difference in the communication skills,” explains Susan. What she is really working on is bringing people and children back to reality. Susan wants to show people that there is more to do than be invested in a computer or phone screen all day. And it’s not just, “Yes, ma’am,” or “No, sir.” Susan says it’s really how you want to treat other people, and the respect that you want to show yourself, and the respect that you deserve. “If I can just change one kid’s life and give them the confidence to go out and follow their dreams, that’s what it’s all about,” says Susan. “I don’t want anyone to ever feel that they have limitations on themselves because nobody should feel like that…I show them the roadmap, I give them the skills, and I coach them. And when I see that they’re ready, I say, ‘Off you go,’ because the world’s a big adventure.” For more information about Good Manners Consulting, head to the website at goodmannersconsulting.com.
hour classes each day, covering five topics. The topics are reinforced during the week, and on day five is a competition where kids test their skills through fake job interviews and other scenarios. “I know etiquette can sound old-fashioned, like pearls and hairspray, but that’s not what I teach at all. My approach is modern, practical, and empowering. I work with children, teens, and young adults to build real confidence and life skills. How to communicate, how to carry themselves, and how to show up each day as the best version of themselves. When they leave, they don’t just know the rules; they feel confident enough to handle any situation.” The camp and other classes cover dating skills, job interview skills, dining etiquette, table manners, how to enter and exit conversations confidently, networking skills, and more. Children can learn how to write emails properly, text with adults, and communicate online with peers. Susan shares that while she works with businesses, teaching children is truly her passion. She even laughs that her Australian accent often helps her connect with kids and keep the sessions fun and engaging. “When I first meet many children, they can be a little unsure of themselves, and that’s completely natural,” she says. “I’ll sometimes playfully call them my ‘silly koalas’ when they’re being a bit cheeky. It keeps things light and helps them relax. But by the time we finish, the transformation is incredible. They walk up confidently, offer a handshake, make eye contact, and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ with genuine confidence.”
8 COLORADO PARENT JULY 2026
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