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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
We’ve been trying to teach Joshua manners and how to politely ask for things. Since he’s only 2 1/2, he doesn’t really get it until reminded. But hey, we try to give the kid hints when he forgets which usually go unnoticed. Such as today at lunch, Joshua kept asking me for Apple-Grape juice. He continued, “I want Apple-Grape juice, daddy.” I finally replied, “You want Apple-Grape juice, what Joshua?” He gladly elaborated and said, “I want more Apple-Grape juice in my cup, daddy.”
Ya, we have a little more work to do. 
Originally posted on The Dad’s Group
June 28th, 2005 at 20:11
Our approach: simply try to eliminate the word “I want…” from his vocabulary. Replace with “May I have… please?” Not that our boy is 100% either, but in general it’s a lot harder to sound bratty or demanding with “May I… please” than the oh-too-common “I want, I want I want it!!!!”
June 29th, 2005 at 9:23
Good suggestion my friend. I started that with Katelyn way back when and trailed off with it. She, too, neither says “may I…”. I think I need to say that to lead by example, too.
June 29th, 2005 at 10:24
Yup, being consistent helps. Now we can spend energy on correcting the boys when they say “Can I” — and making them say “May I.” The plus side is that now all I have to do is give Matthew a quick glare if he says “I want blah blah blah”… and he’ll pause a moment and correct himself. =-) The “can I” is unfortunately probably copied from us. =-)
June 29th, 2005 at 10:32
I like this interchange from a website I frequent (www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com):
Just as I begin fixing dinner every night, I always notice 3 or 4 little children suddenly appear and “want something to eat”. Well today was typical. I had the pizza dough made and risen, and I turned on the oven and began fussing in the kitchen when my 3yo showed up asking me for food:
Jeffy: Mom, can I have someping to eat?
Mom: What?
Jeffy: Can I have someping to eat?
Mom: Someping? What’s “someping”?
Jeffy: Someping to eat.
Mom: Can you say, “SomeTHing”?
Jeffy: SomePing.
Mom: Say, “some”.
Jeffy: Some.
Mom: Good, now say “THing”.
Jeffy: Ping.
Mom: THing, like “THing one and THing two” (from Dr. Suess)
Jeffy: (pauses) Mom, can I have some milk?
June 29th, 2005 at 13:22
Good one on the milk ping, Evers! Too grand.