What do you do when your three-year-old announces that he doesn’t like the new socks your mother gave him as a gift? Or he’s too busy devouring a cookie to show his appreciation for it? “Sometimes it’s tough to get young kids to say thank you. That’s because they don’t feel real gratitude until they’re six or seven,” says Peggy Shecket, a child-development expert who runs parenting workshops in Columbus, Ohio. Still, now’s the time for you to lay the groundwork for good manners.

Model Behavior

Thank your child when she brings you something you requested or after she helps pick up her toys. For holidays and family birthdays, encourage her to make presents, such as a drawing or a colorful collage, so she discovers how it feels to be on the receiving end of heartfelt appreciation.

Be Reasonable

Kids this age only understand why they should say thank you for material objects, like gifts. Doing so for actions or kind words is a complicated notion, so don’t ask your child to show appreciation when, say, someone tells him he’s clever. And don’t expect him to fake joy over gifts he doesn’t like. When he unwraps those socks, just thank Grandma in front of him, and maybe he’ll chime in.

Prompt Her

Help her remember the proper response, but avoid the classic, “What do you say?” since that can feel like a test. Instead, simply state, “I’d like you to say thank you for the cookie,” and she’ll get the hint without feeling put on the spot.

[Strengthening Your Family Around the Dinner Table]

Don’t Force It

Ask only once or twice, then drop it if your child clams up. “Parents sometimes threaten, you better say thank you, or I’m giving it back, but that’s one of the worst things you can do, since you don’t want your child to associate blame or shame with being polite,” says Shecket. Praise is far more effective: Every time your child says thank you, give him a kiss and a hug.