My best parenting tip on how to get a child to apologize

It just goes to show, children are the greatest imitators of the world. No matter how hard we try to give them great manners, they become perfect copies of us. With that in mind, the greatest way to teach a child is by example. Good manners in a child comes from good manners in the parents.

I couldn't agree more beautyqueen - children learn from example! I do try very hard to show my children the right example! I also try to make sure that my children know that they are loved no matter what but that they are also expected to stick to my rules! xxx

i completely agree with you... children learn very quickly from other people especially from people who are close to them... so as a parent being a good role model and setting good examples for the children are definitely a good parenting tips that i will use when i have a child on my own in the future... thanks for sharing this tip with us...

I have found that a combination of things has worked for me actually....Telling them to apologize is one..Making sure I apologize when necessary including to them should the moment require it is also key with me and more than anything raising them to NOT be mean, hurtful etc and to be aware of others feelings and situations etc has been a huge help....Sadly so many caregivers today really dont take the time to teach their kids that everyone is different and we all deserve respect and understanding, compassion etc etc ya know.... Among other things though, those 3 methods combined have really done wonders..

I do think that showing your child by example is the best way to teach them something. I'm big on manners. My son knows to say please and thank you when he wants something. He knows to use I'm sorry and Excuse me when they are appropriate, too. He even remind his daddy when to use them from time to time! :) When he was he first learning to talk, I was always really careful to use please for even the smallest request and I said thank you for every small thing, too. They were both words that he could say before he turned a year old. Once I knew he could say them, I would gently remind him to say them when the time was appropriate. Now when we go out to eat, the waitstaff is always surprised. When they ask what we want to drink, my son says "May I pwease have milk?" and then when they bring it out he says "Dank you!" Then when they bring out his food he says the same. And the funniest part is when they ask if we want dessert. My son almost always answers for everyone with a very sweet "No, but dank you for askin'" It's amazing how quickly kids pick up on things like that. I'm glad that my son has learned how to say such sweet nice things, instead of coping some of the worse things that my husband says from time to time. :)

I like that way of doing things. I use to do the same thing when I was a young mom. I came from a family where apologies didn't come to easily or at all. So decided the best way to teach my children was for me to model it. It still doesn't come that easily for my children but it is better then when I grew up in my family who still has problems dealing with things.

yes i totally agree with you on that,i do the same thing.especially if one of my kids hit or throw a toy or something at their siblings,i have them apologize and give a kiss to them and say im sorry for throwing the toy.its so amazing how young but how smart they realyy are.if my kids say no to me or get fresh with me,i tell them to come over by me,i get knee level and explain to them it wasnt nice what they did,then i have them apologize to me and say im sorry mommy.and then they sit on the couch for time out a few minutes to think about what they done.when they come off the couch i ask them are you gonna do it again and they shake their heads no,and kiss me.