How Do I Prepare My Child to Deliver Food or Notes with Good Manners? 

Parenting Perspective 

Teaching children to deliver items respectfully is an exercise in empathy, social awareness, and confidence. Children may feel nervous about interacting with others. Recognising this anxiety is the first step; parents can then provide models and scripts to help the child feel secure. 

Model and Role-Play 

Practice the delivery at home first. Modelling calm, polite behaviour helps internalise expectations and builds confidence. 

• Demonstrate: Show the child how to greet the recipient politely, make eye contact, and use soft, friendly language. For instance: “Assalamu Alaikum, I brought this for you.” 

• Rehearse: Have your child rehearse with you, gently correcting if their tone or body language seems rushed or distracted. 

Break Tasks into Steps 

Divide the process into manageable actions to reduce overwhelm and ensure consistency. This allows children to focus on one behaviour at a time. 

• Stepwise Approach: The process includes preparing the item, walking carefully, greeting, handing over politely, and saying goodbye. 

• Focus: Use this approach to teach that the task is complete only when all the steps, including the social interaction, have been performed correctly. 

Offer Encouragement and Reflection 

After each delivery, discuss what went well and what could improve. Highlight effort rather than perfection. 

• Highlight Effort: Say, “You remembered to greet and smile—that shows care.” 

• Association: Over time, children associate helpful tasks with positive reinforcement, promoting natural politeness and accountability rather than fear of making mistakes. 

Spiritual Insight 

Teaching Manners as a Form of Worship 

In Islam, every act performed with sincerity and respect can become an act of worship. When children are taught to deliver items with grace and humility, they are embodying adab—the Islamic code of conduct that reflects inner faith through outward behaviour. Parents can remind their child that every polite word, gentle gesture, and sincere smile is recorded by Allah Almighty as a good deed. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mumtahanah (60), Verse 8: 

‘You are not forbidden by Allah (Almighty) from being righteous and showing clemency upon those (disbelieving) people that do not fight (you in following) your pathway of life (compliant with existential nature as created by Allah Almighty), and do not evict you from your homes; indeed, Allah (Almighty) loves those people who show clemency.’ 

This verse reminds believers that kindness and fairness should extend to all people, regardless of background or belief. When a child learns to deliver food or a note with respect, they are practising the very righteousness that Allah Almighty encourages. 

Character as the Closest Path to Allah 

Good manners are a reflection of spiritual refinement. The holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasised that character is central to one’s closeness to Allah Almighty. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2018, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

‘The most beloved of people to Allah on the Day of Resurrection and the closest to Him will be those who are best in character.’ 

A simple act—like delivering a note with “Assalamu Alaikum” and a smile—becomes a practice in humility, gratitude, and spiritual awareness. Parents can elevate these everyday experiences by linking them to intentions (niyyah): “I am doing this to please Allah.” This short reflection transforms a mundane errand into a moment of worship, teaching children that how they treat others is a reflection of their relationship with Allah Almighty.