It's never too soon to teach children the importance of good manners.
Say Please by Tony Ross (Kane Miller Book Publishers, ISBN 1-933605-16-2) is the sixth and, in my opinion, the most important book in the Little Princess series. As a book on manners for children ages 3-5, Say Please encourages children to say please and thank-you in everyday situations.
The premise of the story is simple. The Little Princess learns to say please when asking for something and thank-you when something is given. It’s a quick lesson on why we should all learn to use manners, whether we are at home or trekking through the great outdoors. The examples given, such as wanting dinner and a teddy bear, are situations that all parents and children can relate to. The story is also written in simple child-talk, allowing children to identify with the Little Princess so that her lesson on using manners quickly becomes their own lesson.
My favorite aspect of Say Please is that it talks directly at children instead of talking down to children. Say Please does not tell children why using manners is important, it shows why manners are important. As I’ve explained to young parents in the past, there is a difference between telling children what is right and showing children what is right. If I were to tell my child to use her manners, she would not fully understand why manners are so important. However, if I, as her parent, use my manners everyday in front of my child and show her how to properly act, my child will come to understand why she needs to use manners and in what social situations. This is called teaching through example.
Say Please is a charming book and the perfect reinforcement for young children who are just learning to say please and thank-you.
