Five Magic Words A Child Must Know

Magic words are simple words used while interacting with others that portray good manners and leaves everyone with a pleasant feeling, says parenting social media expert and parenting blogger, Adedayo Tosin Olufemi.

It shows our sense of responsibility and tells even strangers that we are well-behaved and groomed. It also gives people around us some level of positive confidence and trust. Hence there’s no cause for seeing us as rude, disrespectful or insensitive to the feelings of others.

The founder New Mums Hub, a platform for mums that provides relevant information about parenting and family life, stresses that communication is key to our existence as humans and understanding the importance of these five magic words will enable us to interact, cohabit and transact in peace with one another.

These are the five magic words everyone needs to know and use:

Please: Nobody wants to be around rude people and in life, approach matters. The word “please” can get you help when you really need it. Kids need to understand that they are not entitled to anything in life and to get whatever they want, they need to ask nicely. Also, adding please to a sentence will totally change how it sounds to the person on the receiving end. It changes demand to a request. For example saying, “Lace my shoes” sounds commanding, unpleasant and rude, but adding please to that same sentence translates to a more welcoming request: “please lace my shoes.”

Sorry: Children need to be taught to take responsibility and say sorry when they offend. someone else. Rendering an apology by saying sorry brings forgiveness, healing, and peace into any situation. Kids need to know that saying sorry doesn’t make them weak, rather, it’s a display of strength and a good sense of responsibility.

Thank You: Learning to say thank you for every good deed will help children grow into independent adults with less sense of entitlement. It’s a show of gratitude and honour. Acknowledging people’s efforts and telling them you do not take them for granted. When someone gives you something or does something for you, you need it. to show gratitude, even if you are paying for the service they are rendering! When you say thank you, people are excited to do more.

Excuse Me: ‘Excuse Me’ can be used in different ways. To take permission to interrupt, leave a place, or politely asking someone to leave the way for you to pass. Kids need to learn to not interrupt when people (especially adults) are talking and if they must, they need to take permission before proceeding to say what they intend to discuss.

Pardon Me: Pardon me, shows you made a mistake, acknowledge it and are genuinely sorry for
it. It’s another way of saying sorry and saving yourself from much-deserved anger and reaction for a wrong deed.

Mrs. Olufemi, however, added that it is never too early to introduce children to good manners, in fact, it is better to start at infancy so they can grow with it. Children emulate what their parents do. Therefore, it starts with the parent making conscious efforts to inculcate these habits and lay a good foundation for their children.

“These magic words go beyond making people around us feel good about themselves, they also teach decency, fairness, empathy, responsibility and honour.”