How can I help my daughter be polite about gifts she doesnt like?


Teach your daughter the importance of saying “thank you” when she receives a gift, regardless of whether she likes it. Don’t ask her to lie and pretend that she likes the gift, instead keep the focus on teaching her the importance of being polite and thanking others. She will also learn by watching how you interact with others, so make a point to model this behavior yourself. It is important to keep in mind that learning to be gratitude is a difficult concept for young children to grasp. Being grateful requires a sensitivity to other people’s feelings, but the ability to take a different perspective or “put oneself in another’s shoes” is a skill that continues to develop throughout childhood.

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.