We live in a society where your child’s behavior literally reflects on you hence the dire need of having children understand and master the use of the magic words. Every parent’s parental goal is to raise a polite and respectful child equipped with a beautiful and considerate personality, but while manners come naturally to some children others wade their way through it.
Any child who understands the importance of saying the magic words “please and thank you” effortlessly stands out in a massive crowd because of their admirable personality. However, despite how beautiful it is, taking a child through the manners shaping lessons is no walk in the park and requires a lot of dedication.
What is important about the magic words?
The magic words command attention, there is so much strength and power behind any person who effortlessly says, “may I,” “thank you,” “I am sorry,” “excuse me,” the sound of it alone draws your attention towards them and magically changes your perception on them.
It sounds like a totally different word with a special meaning when it comes from a child. Completely enhances their social presence and at the same time helps them adapt to their surroundings.
The magic words in children stimulate their social inclusion and positive reactions which allow them to interact effectively with their peers.
Ways of impacting the magic words on children
Children learn faster from what they see and hear than what they are asked to do, this means they love copying and mimicking. It will sink effortlessly if you chose to be an example, include the words in your daily conversations, and allow it to flow naturally. Be quick to apologize when you do wrong, thank them after an errand no matter how minor it is and excuse yourself before doing the simplest of things like changing the TV program. Within no time they will grasp.
Put a meaning to the word and have them understand what they are saying and the appropriate time of use. For instance, let them know that:
- Thank you is a way of showing gratitude to someone after either a kind gesture or assistance. This will help them be grateful and appreciate another person’s efforts.
- Please is a respectful way of requesting for something from someone and by doing so they learn humility, and the need to obtain permission before obtaining anything from anyone.
- Sorry is a way of apologizing to someone after a wrong doing. This will teach them responsibility on their actions.
This may sound tiresome, but information is power, we thrive faster when we know the target mark.
Children are naturally playful and any activity on the contrary bores them fast. Make the learning process enticing, you can choose to use songs, games or anything that will keep them in the mood. Since they learn faster from observing you can as well use educative movies, watch it with them and pause constantly to explain the content.
Do not wait until they are much older to introduce the words, children mimic from as young as 10 months old as much as they hardly understand what they are mimicking. Encourage them to register the right words, this means you have to introduce the words to them as soon as any word can leave their mouths.
Take them through the importance of respecting someone’s space and privacy. Begin by knocking and asking for permission before entering their rooms or seeking their consent before donating some of their clothes or toys.
Remember the best way to correct a mistake, or scold after a show of disrespect is on the spot. Do not hesitate on correcting them promptly after a wrong doing. But even then, you must be cautious and polite while at it because you do not want to scare them away. Maintain eye contact so that the disappointment in your tone reflects on your eyes.
Impacting discipline on a child is nowhere close to launching a grenade which is done in a flash. Have your patience cap on as it may take longer than you thought for them to fully grasp. In your quest for success also apply dedication and perseverance and remind them frequently. It may take a while but will soon be a habit.
You can also offer motivation by setting target goals and rewarding them after every score, they will be compelled to do better and also tell on each other whenever they miss the target.
Learning is a process, teach but do not force it on them and also do not negotiate too much they may end up doing it for the show.
The Magic words are simply the manners shaping words that we all expect to hear from our children whenever they are interacting with their peers. We are crafted to believe that it’s a sign of good parenting, responsibility and grooming, but what we know for a fact is that it contains some level of confidence and enhances self-esteem.
Understanding the importance of the magic words is the beginning of a respectful and peaceful cohabiting with people skills. So by impacting the magic words knowledge on the kids, you are unknowingly inculcating their interpersonal intelligence. Developing this intelligence commences way before preschool which means it begins from the mother before it extends to the teachers. They aren’t the things we only do when someone is watching but habits we absorb and live with. So, you wouldn’t prompt a child to say good morning when you never say it yourself. Remember you can only give what you have and by impacting manners in a child it means you possess it.
Make sure your child understands the value of every word they speak and yes, the magic words are: Thank you, Sorry, Please, Excuse me and Pardon me.
Is this relatable or are you on a different phase on this? Talk to us, let’s know how you are training your young ones on how to have manners and treat people.