How Can I Help My Child Thank Siblings for Small Favours? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is very common for children to accept help or a kind gesture from a sibling without offering any acknowledgement, which can lead to frustration and missed opportunities to strengthen their bond. By teaching your children to sincerely thank their siblings for even the smallest of favours like passing an item, sharing a toy, or helping with homework you are nurturing the vital qualities of respect, gratitude, and mutual love between them. 

Explain That Gratitude Strengthens Bonds 

Help your child to understand the purpose behind saying thank you within the family. You could explain, ‘When you say thank you to your brother or sister, it shows them that you noticed their kindness and that it mattered to you. It makes them feel appreciated and want to help you again.’ This helps them to see gratitude as a form of encouragement, not just a formality. 

Lead by Your Own Example 

The most powerful way to teach gratitude is to model it yourself. Let your children hear you thanking other family members frequently for small, everyday acts of help: ‘Thank you so much for bringing me that glass of water.’ Your consistent example will normalise gratitude and make it a natural part of your family’s communication style. 

Equip Them with Simple Phrases 

Make it easy for your child to express their thanks by giving them a few short and clear phrases they can use. You could suggest they say: 

• ‘Thanks for helping me with that.’ 

• ‘That was very kind of you, thank you.’ 

• ‘I really appreciate that.’ 

Having a variety of simple phrases keeps the expression of gratitude feeling fresh and genuine. 

Make Gratitude a Family Habit 

You can introduce a small and simple family rule that helps to make this behaviour consistent. A gentle principle like, ‘In our family, whenever someone helps us, even in a small way, we always make sure to say thank you,’ helps to make the act of showing appreciation automatic. 

Acknowledge and Praise Their Gratitude 

When you see your child remember to thank a sibling, be sure to affirm their thoughtful behaviour. You might say, ‘I really liked how you remembered to thank your sister for passing you the pencil. I saw that it made her smile.’ This reinforces gratitude as a positive and rewarding habit. 

By guiding them with your words, modelling gratitude in your own actions, and affirming their efforts, you teach your children the important lesson that the kindness between siblings should never be taken for granted, but should always be noticed and appreciated. 

Spiritual Insight 

Gratitude (shukr) is a central and recurring theme in Islam. Just as we are commanded to thank Allah for His countless blessings, we are also taught to show our appreciation for the kindness of people and this begins with our closest family members. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Luqman (31), Verse 14: 

‘…(Thus O mankind) be grateful to Me (Allah Almighty) and to your parents, and to Me is (your ultimate) destination.‘ 

This verse beautifully shows that our gratitude should extend to those who are closest to us, beginning with the members of our own family. It is a part of our duty to Allah. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1954, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah.’ 

This profound hadith is a direct reminder that showing gratitude to other people is an essential and non-negotiable part of our gratitude to Allah. The two are inextricably linked. 

When children learn to thank their siblings for even the smallest of favours, they are practising the beautiful prophetic way of noticing and acknowledging the good in others. These small but significant words of gratitude not only strengthen their sibling bond but also help to build a family environment that is rooted in love, respect, and mercy.