IS teaching kids manners really that important?

bri123abc · June 2015

My sister and I recently got into a friendly debate and I'd love your take.

I do not teach my child to say thank you or send thank you cards for presents received.

I do however teach my child to give old toys that I buy to charity when finished with them.

My sister says this is valuable to do, but manners are equally as important. She also says it makes people not want to buy gifts as it reflects poorly on me.

What do you think??

TreasureTrooper · June 2015

Yes, ma'am. It is important.

wintersong · June 2015

Manners and generosity are both important. Send thank you notes... They might not notice if you don't, but they will def notice if you do!

mandyreads · June 2015

We definitely teach our girls to say please and thank you. Yes ma'am/sir and No ma'am/sir. These little things matter to us

Meagain31 · June 2015

Yes it's important and that's common sense.

CanadaMom17 · June 2015

Highly important. I don't expect thank you cards in the mail, but a phone call to say thank you for a gift, etc. if I'm not there in person to be thanked is a must. I've stopped gift giving to teens in the family when they can't be bothered acknowledging them any more (with a reason why - they were told, no thank you, no more gifts, and I stuck to it when the next gift wasn't acknowledged). Younger children can't help what their parents don't teach, mind you.

mamaskittles09 · June 2015

Kids need to learn that from an early age. It's disrespectful, in my opinion, for a child to not say their please and thank you's. I realize they're young, but it's very important for us as parents to teach our children social responsibility. It's very nice that you and your sister can respectfully disagree on things!

NoSugarCoating · June 2015

Saying thank you for a gift received is very important! How is this a debate?

FemShep · June 2015

I consider "please" and "thank you" basic survival skills. Seriously.

I would give someone a pass if they used the wrong wine glass or fancy fork, but if you can't thank me after a job interview or say please when you're asking me to do something, you fail at getting hired, getting me to do what you want, and developing any sort of relationship based on courtesy and empathy.

BirdsofParadise86 · June 2015

This cannot be real.

wassuphoes · June 2015

I cannot imagine why anyone would intentionally not teach their children basic manners.

SaltyMcNulty · June 2015

Is this a trick question?

You don't think it's important to say please, and thank you, and you're welcome, and express gratitude?

I'm with your sister on this one - you don't teach your child to acknowledge kindness/thoughtfulness in others, they're going to grow up to at least seem like a spoiled, entitled, unappreciative brat.