Teach your child to say thank you – without just reciting it

16. October 20261 min. readBy Stephanie Skov

Teach your child to say thank you. A girl holds an apple, and a boy says thank you at the kitchen table with fruit

“What do you say?” Most parents have said it hundreds of times. It can work, but it doesn’t always teach a child why we say thank you. Here are some ways to make it feel more natural.

Be the example

Say thank you to your child when they hand you something, tidy up or help. Say thank you to the bus driver and the cashier. Kids learn most from what they see us do.

Explain what thank you does

“Look how happy Grandma was when you said thank you.” When your child sees that one little word makes others happy, they have a reason to say it.

Thank you for the meal

In Denmark, everyone says “tak for mad” (thank you for the meal) after eating. It’s a lovely tradition and a good daily practice. Make it a regular way to end the meal that everyone says, grown-ups too.

There are many ways to say thank you

A hug, a smile, a drawing or a wave. Shy little ones may find it hard to say the word to strangers. That’s okay. Help them along: “Do you want to say thank you together with me?”

Gratitude at bedtime

Ask in the evening: “What are you happy about today?” It’s gratitude in its simplest form, and it’s a nice way to end the day.

Read about it

A little book where your child says thank you to Grandma, to a friend and to the bus driver makes the practice concrete. Afterward, you can act out the situations with teddy bears.