You may want to try reminding your Little to say “thank you,” especially in situations where your little is thanking someone else, like a waitress or salesperson. However, remember that it will take time for thanking people to become a habit for your little.

It can also be helpful to model the behavior for your little, thanking others for what they do and also thanking your Little, even for the small things that he/she does. If your Little has a habit of forgetting to put their seatbelt on, thank them for remembering or for doing so when you ask. If your Little helps you by holding the door open or doing a favor for you, thank them accordingly. By modeling the behavior they will become more familiar with situations in which “thank you” is appropriate. 

Try to reinforce your Little when they do say “thank you.” Tell them that it is nice when they say “thank you” or that it makes you feel appreciated. Remind them of how they feel when you thank them.

Finally, don’t take it personally if your Little doesn’t say “thank you.” Your Little might not say “thank you” to anyone. By saying “I had a good time” or even “it was okay” your Little is showing their appreciation of your time together. If you watch closely, chances are that your little is showing appreciation more through behavior than through words.

Do you have any other questions that you would like to have answered in this forum?  Send them to ehofer@bbbssepa.org.

Thanks for being a Big! 

Sincerely, Your Match Support Team