In a recent survey here in Australia, the lack of manners is a worry for parents.
A staggering 91% of those surveyed want values and manners taught in schools!
What a bunch of idiot parents!
The Simple Way To Teach Basic Manners
Here’s the simple and effective way to teach your kids manners (it’s what I did to teach my kids their “Please” and “Thank You’s”):
If the kid doesn’t say “Please” when asking for whatever it is they want, they don’t get it.
- Not don’t get it now, or don’t get it in 5 minutes, or don’t get it in an hour. They don’t get it.
If the kid doesn’t say “Thank You” when you give them what they asked for (or the waiter gives it, or the store keeper gives it), they don’t get it.
- Not don’t get it now, or don’t get it in 5 minutes, or don’t get it in an hour. They don’t get it.
The Famous Kite Incident Of 2001
Ask my kids about the famous Kite incident of 2001.
It went down like this:
“Can we please buy that pink kite, Mr Stallholder?” ask my kids.
“Yes, you can kids,” he says.
My 3 kids are standing there with the excitement building as the kite seller hands over the promise of hours of fun.
They hand over the money and turn to leave.
“Stop,” says the dad (that’s me).
I take the kite off them and hand it back to the seller.
“Sorry mate, please take the kite back. The kids didn’t say “Thank You” so they don’t get it.”
Doesn’t Take Long (And Why Your Kid Is A Whinging Pain In The Ass)
Kids are simply animals. They learn behaviour based on what works.
If they don’t get:
- that kite, or
- that ice-cream, or
- that drink, or
- that meal, or
- whatever
because they didn’t say “Please” and “Thank You”, then they’ll soon learn to say “Please” and “Thank You”.
(But if you, like loads of parents seem to do, give in at the first whinge then your kids will learn that whinging works and before you know it you’ve got a pain in the ass, whinging kid.
And he’s a pain in the ass, whinging kid because your taught him that being a pain in the ass, whinging kid gets him what he wants.)
Make sense?
Cheers
Leave a Reply