I'd like to share a really simple way to teach your kid to say thank you, you might want your child to show gratefulness when they receive something or when they're told something nice. They should say thank you. They should have that feeling of gratitude rather than the typical parent response of what do you say? There's actually a way to teach them to say thank you all by themselves. And we never have to say that again. This is one of my favorite tips to teach parents because it works immediately and continues to work as we use it.

I call this technique Hold on. Here's how it works. When I give a child something, let's say like a cookie or something I bought for them at the store. Not every time Maybe two times three times a day Max, I go to give them something where I'm thinking in my head, I'm going to hold on to this item. Let's say I'm giving this book to them to my child. I'm going to give it to them.

And I'm going to extend my arm. And I'm going to pinch it hard. So I'm just going to say, here you go. And they're gonna grab it, ready to take it. But we're not going to let go. Immediately, the first thing your child will do is look up in your eyes.

They're looking for some clarification, they're confused. At what point we can stare back at them. And we can give them a clue of what we're looking for. So for instance, my one year old, no sign language. I'm going to show her that I'm looking for her to say thank you. For older children, I can just tell them say thank you.

As soon as they say thank you, we release the item and they get they get Get their item. And we're able to praise them for saying thank you, hey, you're so polite nice manners. The next time they ask for a cup or juice or whatever it may be, here we go again, we do the exact same thing. This time is going to trigger a response in your child. They're gonna reach for the item again, and again, we're going to hold on. And this time, your child would immediately say, thank you.

And we let go every single time. Well, maybe not every single time, but it's going to work about 80%. Because I know for myself, sometimes I even forget that 15 20% of the time to say thank you. Someone says they like measure a bit. Oh, cool. Yeah.

Oh, thank you. So just remember that. If your child doesn't say thank you, you can practice this skill again, but don't do it more than two or three times a day. Sometimes when your children forget I'd like to use another strategy to help them build this skill. But a few more things about the hold on technique. You should not be jerking back at all.

And this may distract your child from what's really going on. They might be thinking it's it's a game and thinking, What am I playing with mom rather than? What do I need to say right now to get my item. Also, make sure you're doing this technique with something you can hold on to, and not something that will crumble. If they grab it, and it breaks apart. It isn't going to work.

So make sure you use something that you can really hold on to and it's something special. Like I said, it shouldn't be every single time and every single time you're, you're giving them something, it should be two or three times a day, as they build this new skill back to that 20% of the time when your kid forgets my other strategy I call try again. So if your child is is forgets one of those times to say thank you. We stay, try again. And we gently take the item back and we give it back to them. Here you go.

I want you to be able to practice and remind them of the skill that they're building rather than getting angry or frustrated. The first time you do this, the kid may be fused, confused again, like, what's this all about? What do I have to try again, but after you do this several times, they'll know exactly what they forgot. And they'll be ready to say thank you. So we've got the Hold on. And the try again techniques.

The last thing I like to do to help my child develop the skill of saying thank you is to help them prepare. You know when you have your child was about to get something I know my child at the at the supermarket can ask for a free fruit or a vegetable. I have asked the store employee for free sample and when the worker is going to the bathroom to wash it. This is my cue to tell my daughter what's gonna happen. What's gonna happen when that person comes back with your blueberries? What are you gonna do things and she'll tell me tell me.

Thank you. Yeah, that's right. So now she's got the words in the in the top of her mouth ready to go. Think of this when your child is wearing that pretty new dress or, or getting ready for a birthday party, or she got a new bike or she's going to show off to her friends. Give these strategies a try. I know the whole on technique will surprise you as to how effective it is.

It will eventually eliminate us from the equation and allows the child to develop the important skill of saying thank you