Helping Children Learn to Say Thank You

February 23rd, 2011 by Dionna | 3 Comments
Posted in Consensual Living, Just for Fun/Miscellaneous, natural parenting

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Kieran draws thank you pictures for his birthday and Christmas presents.

I do not believe in forcing or shaming children into reciting social niceties when they don’t mean them,1 but I can appreciate that children who practice those niceties can find it easier to function among peers and adults. And while I think that modeling is the most effective (and easiest!) way to impart the importance of “please,” “thank you,” and the like, I’ve come up with a few more ideas on how to help children learn how to express their appreciation.

Click on over to API Speaks to read my 10 ideas, and leave your own thoughts in the comments!

  1. See, for example, Seven Alternatives to Forced Apologies or Focusing on Children’s Needs ↩

3 Responses to:
"Helping Children Learn to Say Thank You"

  1. Sarah MacLaughlin
    Feb-23-11 at 3:22 pm

    I can’t tell you how often this is questioned when I give talks. Parents ask me, “Well how will they learn?” after I suggest they opt out of prompting. Trust me, and trust them, they will. S

  2. Tat   
    Feb-25-11 at 8:31 pm

    I think role modeling is the most powerful way to teach children to say thank you and please. They copy everything we do and say, including the nice stuff.



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