Please / thank you from a 4yo

[Icanttakethisanymore]

Do your 4yos say please and thank you unprompted? I have been prompting my 4yo to say please and thank you since he was 2. Literally every time he should say it, I say it. When he was younger I’d just say it (ie not expect him to repeat it) now I expect him to say it (which he does when prompted). However, he rarely remembers to say it without prompting, which I find quite surprising. Is this normal? He’s 5 in June and doing fine at school, quite well behaved etc. no concerns about his development.

just to add - I don’t think this is a particularly big deal at his age, I’m just curious really as I would have thought he’d have picked it up better by now (but maybe my expectations are unreasonable).

My kids are older but I remember the same thing. I had to prompt them for literally years and I couldn't believe how long it took them to get it! Keep going OP - mine are nice polite teens now.

Depends on the child. One of my kids did at 4 and still is exceptionally polite. One even now doesn't usually remember - he does have autism. He is clearly sorry when he forgets. I still remind him.

Do you a your DH use please and thank you so he hears it modelled? I would still prompt.. what do we say? I teach early years and expect good manners in our class. Please, thank you and holding the door open for the person behind you.

Yes - we definitely model polite language and behaviour. We have both also inserted please / thank you into every sentence he has said (where one was warranted) since he could talk, which I why I am a bit surprised he doesn't do it ore without prompting. He does do it sometimes but I'd say only about 10-20% of the time. Having said that, he also doesn't remember to turn the light out in the toilet or close the door (despite me reminding him every time!) so maybe I shouldn't be surprised!

Thats good to hear 😅