Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

‘Water!! I need to drink!!!’

‘Tissue!!’

‘I’m thirsty!!’

Some children yell similar words when they need something.

Like, when they need to drink, EXPECTING someone to quickly provide them with the requested glass of water.

Whenever that happens in our family, NO one responds by giving him/her a glass of water, because:

1. The child does not say WHOM he/she is talking to

2. The child is not a king/queen/prince/princess whom everyone else comes to serve at a slight scream

3. The child is displaying an attitude of a spoiled child (refer to point no.2)

4. The child is not showing respect towards others through his/her language and tone of voice (ie. When he/she needs help from another person)

…

All 3 kids had gone through phases when they displayed the above attitude.

And what I usually say as a response is:

‘Who are you talking to, btw? If you need help, please say the name, ask for help politely, and with a ‘please’.’

Only when the child says something like:

Then, a ‘thank you’ and ‘you are welcome’ would need to follow.

…

A long-winded process just to give a child a drink, some parents say.

Easier to just pass the glass in 2 seconds.

To us, this is a necessary process, needs to be consistently repeated, too, … in the name of educating every child on the importance of respecting others, and basic mannerism and communication.

Habits that children will carry till they are adults.

Food for thought.

…

Additional notes:

Questions some parents ask:
-‘What if the glass is too high / too far from the child?’

I’d say, ‘Still, ask the child to properly ask for help, then we help and get the glass of water for him. Do place plastic glasses within easy reach at home, so we can remind the child to get the drink himself, too.’

– ‘What if the water bottle is just next to us, can’t we just pass the water bottle to the child?’

I’d say, ‘Yes, it’s easy to just pass the water bottle to the child. But the point we’re teaching the child is, he needs to learn how to address others respectfully and ask for help properly. Only then, help is given.’

– ‘Some kids don’t drink much. And I need to remind my kids to drink.’

I’d say, ‘Reminding our kids to drink is of course okay, and it is in fact a totally different matter from asking the child to ask for something / ask for help respectfully.’