Politeness

So my dad is here visiting right now and we’ve been working with the boys this week on not saying “I want” so much because it sounds demanding. So instead, we’ve been encouraging them to say “I would like” or “May I please” or “Would you please” when they want something. To keep it simple and at a kid-level, we have a general rule not to use the word “want.”

This morning my dad dropped Sam off at daycare and the following exchange took place:

Sam: “Grampie, I would like for you to put my animals in my backpack for me please.”

Grampie: “Sam, that is such a polite way to ask! Thank you!”

Sam: “You’re welcome. Now do it.”