To ask what age a child should say thank you

[PinkGlitter123]

For a Birthday gift off his own back without being prompted/reminded

I still have to remind mine sometimes. They’re 10 and 7. In an ideal world they’d remember every time but sometimes they need a prompt.

Personally I think children should be taught manners from the off. As soon as they can toddle and talk.

Dd knows she should at 4. She is very embarrassed if i have to remind her. But i would need to help her remember if she couldn't give an immediate thank you iyswim

Depends on the child and their maturity and understanding.

From very small. I think children (and adults) go further in life if they have manners, as people just like them more.

For most things I sometimes have to remind my 3 year old, only very rarely my 5 year old. For a birthday present they would both say thank you without prompting I think.

In person or afterwards by text or phone or letter?

PinkiOcelot, but they still sometimes need promting.

Children vary. So upto eight in some cases.

If it's overlooked at a Birthday party etc, then it could be excitement.

I will probably get flamed for this but I bought for an 8 year old that I know and saw her earlier. She didnt mention it at all and it just got me thinking.

Mine is 2 and will say it unprompted about 50% of the time... I’d expected them to do without a reminder for the most part by the time they’re about 4. But if it’s a party and they’re over excited it’s totally reasonable they’d forget, as long as the parents prompt and they say it then that’s fine I think unless we’re talking teens.

I’d say 6 or 7?

DD is 15 months and she’s learning “ta” from us and nursery, I think you should start early with manners

But did you give it to her today, or weeks ago?

If they are given the gift by the sender then I would expect them to say thank you from a young age.

I read this as though the gift was given to the recipient in the senders absence, this changes things as my ten year old would absolutely want to thank someone but it depends on the time elapsed before he saw this person. He is likely to forget and we don't really phone people, and vice versa.

My nieces and nephews tend to forget if we haven't seen each other for a while, I don't mind. If I had been there to pass it to them, I would have a thank you and a big immediately.

Of she didnt thank you as you handed over the present it may be considered rude. If it's the first time she has seen you since she received the present then she may have forgotten

Dd has done since she could talk, she's 4.5 now.. not sure if the novelty will wear off but I'm hoping it'll be ingrained

OP, did she get the present a while ago, and just see you today? In that situation, i’d remind my child before we saw you. Memory like a sieve. But she’s 6. It’s not the same as receiving a gift and not saying anything in the moment.

My DD (2) thanks people in shops, the binman, whoever shows up, really. 😂

Ta, should be one of their first words. When you give them something, say ta, everytime. My gd is mouthing ta and she is 9 mths. Obviously doesn't understand yet and it's more like ta than tar.

If the person is standing there, handing over a gift, then from when they are tiny..say 3
If it is something that arrived by post / we left with relative type thing, then they might not necessarily think to contact the giver, without a prompt, but it depends how used to writing thankyou notes they are.

It depends, do you want a rote learned 'thank you' or an honest 'i genuinely appreciate this gift' thank you? My 16 month old says thank you, I'm not sure he really means it though

My dd normally says thank you when given something. She's 2. Not sure if she'd be too excited by a present so may need reminding. But from the get go I say.

CannyLad

I want it rote learned. I have no intention of raising children who only say thank you when they like the present.

If something is just social grease does it mean anything? I'd only want a genuine thanks if someone meant it.

If something is just social grease does it mean anything? I'd only want a genuine thanks if someone meant it.

Yes. Sometimes a person buys what they can afford or what they think the child will like. The thanks is for the effort and the thought, not for the gift itself.

If you gave a present there and then they should say thank you at 8.

If you passed on a present a few days ago and this is the first time they have seen you since I wouldn't expect an 8 year old to remember. If you or parent mentioned gift I would expect them to say thank you.