Parent guide · Seeds, ages 3.5–6
How can I teach my 3.5 to 6 year old the magic words in English?
Teach the magic words, please, thank you, sorry and excuse me, by using them yourself every day, practising them in short role-plays and praising your child when they use them on their own. Young children learn polite language mostly by copying the adults around them, so modelling matters more than reminding.
Key takeaways
- The four magic words: please, thank you, sorry, excuse me.
- Model them yourself, many times a day.
- Practise in play: tea parties, shop, doctor.
- Praise when your child uses them without a reminder.
- Add simple polite phrases as they grow.
What are the magic words?
- Please: when asking for something. “Can I have water, please?”
- Thank you: when someone gives or helps. “Thank you, Nani.”
- Sorry: after a mistake or hurting someone. “Sorry I pushed you.”
- Excuse me: to get attention or pass by. “Excuse me, can I come through?”
Which polite phrases can we add next?
- Good morning / Good night
- May I…? (May I play with this?)
- You’re welcome.
- Can you help me, please?
- Nice to meet you.
- No, thank you.
How do young children learn polite words?
Mostly by hearing and copying. By 4 to 5, most children talk easily with both children and adults,1 so it’s a natural time to build polite phrases into everyday talk. When you say “please” and “thank you” to your child and to others, they learn when and how to use them.
Which games teach good manners?
- Tea party: serve toys and practise “Would you like some tea?” “Yes, please.” “Thank you.”
- Shop play: “Can I have an apple, please?” “Here you are.” “Thank you!”
- Magic word spotting: count how many magic words you each hear in a day.
- Puppet show: a puppet forgets to say please; your child helps it.
How can a magic words chart help?
Draw four boxes for please, thank you, sorry and excuse me, each with a picture. Put a sticker in a box when your child uses that word without a reminder. Keep it light and celebratory, not a test.
What if my child refuses to say sorry?
Forcing a sorry often makes it feel like a punishment. Calmly talk about how the other person feels, model the sorry yourself, and give your child a moment. A sincere sorry a little later is better than a forced one straight away.
How do Little Lingos classes help?
In Seeds, our stage for ages 3.5 to 6, children learn greetings and everyday phrases from the first term (Hello, Garden) through songs, puppet play and picture games, and practise them with the trainer and classmates in live 40-minute classes.
Keep reading: good habits in English, show and tell ideas and speech and language milestones, ages 3 to 6. To practise this with a trainer, see our spoken English classes.
Questions parents ask
Questions parents ask
What are the 4 magic words for kids?
Please, thank you, sorry and excuse me. Many families add “you’re welcome” and “may I”.
At what age should a child say please and thank you?
Children can start copying “please” and “thank you” from about 2 to 3 years, and use them more on their own by 4 to 5 with regular modelling.
Should I make my child say thank you every time?
Gentle reminders are fine, but modelling and praise work better than insisting every time. Children copy what they hear.
How do I teach manners in English if we speak another language at home?
Use polite words in your home language too, and add the English ones in play and daily routines. Children can learn both.
Is a magic words chart a good idea?
Yes, if it stays positive. Use stickers to celebrate words your child uses without a reminder, not to punish.
Sources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). “How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?” Reprinted on Colorín Colorado.
Sources checked 3 November 2026. This guide is general information for parents, not medical, psychological or speech-therapy advice.
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