When should they say 'thank you' unprompted?

[mamaoftwo]

At the moment my DS (just turned 3) has to be prompted to say thank you. At what age should he begin to say it automatically? He's generally okay with please.

Still working on my 4 and 7 year olds
Think they are just blooming rude actually....

Id say from experience with dss they begin to remember occasionally sometimes when not too busy or excited etc etc anytime between 4 and 8 and then they promptly refuse to say it as its stupid/childish/crap etc between the ages of 8 and 17/18 or even later depending on how quickly they grow up

Please you see comes naturally as they WANT something. Im not a cynic honest.

i hold things tilt hey say i then r elase them

DD1 (nearly 5) often says it not always, but often. DD2 (2) nearly always needs prompting.

my dd is just turning 3 and since she only started talking a few weeks ago has started sayingpeese and dankoo usually unprompted.
My ds now 11 used to be great now hes TERRIBLE!

6.5 yo ds asked for something the other day - then said, "did you hear that? Please just came out of my mouth without I even thought about it"

he does say thank you most of the time, but he has to plan it if you know what I mean. So you are doing very very well with your 3yo!

DS is 7 and DD is 6, and they remember about 80% of the time. I think 3 is being a bit optimistic! Just keep gently reminding and it'll come with time.

I still have to remind my 2 and a half year old a lot of the time.

I prompt by not giving it to him.

yes it helps if you don't produce the goods and services until the right words are heard
though that is why I got fired from Waitrose

LOL

1. Mine did it automatically, to the bus driver, by then. And I think the bus drivers love it!

kama, don't you think that's really endearing, though?

My youngest is 2 and says thank you all the time
Have never had to prompt her. She also says sorry if she gets told off.

Her older sisters don't seem to manage quite as well though

'tankoo' was dd's first word. But she still needs to be reminded often and she's nearly 7.

Ds1 is now five and has to be prompted all of the time. DS2 is two and says it regularly unprompted (and replies "You're welcome" or "My pleasure" if you thank him!)

The difference? I introduced pleases and thank yous from the moment he could speak, as a normal part of life - around 9 months. Wish I'd done it first time round.

VTM

DD is very good about this, and always has been. It's been an unprompted part of her vocabulary since she was around 3 I think. I only wish she was as good at chewing her food with her mouth closed! I prompt and prompt on that!

I do the same as cod - he doesn't get what he wants till I hear the magic words. He's nearly 4 now and has started to say please, thank you and sorry without being prompted some of the time. I am pleased to say though that he is at least more likely to remember with other people so hopefully he will give everyone else the impression of being a well-brought up boy! (but I think he often `forgets' with me just to wind me up!).

What about visiting kids? We've just had five round for a birthday tea. I find I'm almost physically incapable of giving them what they want unless they ask properly.

One girl held out her hand as she was leaving and said 'give me my stuff!' (meaning cake/poster/party bag). The word 'No' had popped out of my mouth before I had a chance to think. I told her she'd have to wait until she could ask nicely.

Should have made allowances because they were excited...but didn't. Most of them are obviously used to being reminded!