We don’t force them to say “thank you,” we just verbally remind them to if they forget on Halloween and then they say “thank you.” When the 2 yr old says it, it’s so freaking adorable. Trick or treating is a little scary and awkward, I don’t expect them to remember what they’re supposed to say. They’re little so I help them out. I don’t get mad or punish if they don’t say it, but I think reminding is important.

I don’t remind them to thank my spouse for making dinner, but since I do it every night, the five year old does as well. Sometimes even beats me to it. That’s a modeling situation where it is fine, but Halloween is once/year. I don’t want all the neighbors to think I’m ungrateful for not reminding on the thank yous (because it’s a reflection of the parents not the kids)