What should they say when corrected by a peer in front of others? 

Parenting Perspective 

Being corrected by a peer, especially in front of others, can feel deeply embarrassing for a child. Their instinctive reaction might be a defensive one, such as, ‘No, I am not!’ or, ‘Mind your own business!’ This defensiveness not only risks damaging their friendships but can also make the child appear insecure. The key is to teach your child a gracious and confident script that preserves their dignity, keeps their friendships intact, and transforms a potentially humiliating moment into an opportunity for growth. 

Explain How a Calm Response Builds Respect 

Help your child understand the social power of a calm reaction. You can say: ‘When someone corrects you in front of your friends, your first response reveals your character. Snapping back might make people hesitant to help you in the future, but thanking them or listening calmly makes you look confident and kind.’ This helps them to reframe the correction not as a personal threat, but as a chance to demonstrate good character. 

Provide Simple and Gracious Scripts 

Equip your child with straightforward phrases that are easy to remember and use in the moment. 

• If the correction is right: 

• ‘Thank you, I did not realise that.’ 

• ‘Oh, good point. I will fix it.’ 

• ‘I had not thought of it that way, thank you for telling me.’ 

• If they think the correction is wrong: 

• ‘I see what you mean, but I thought it was done this way. Shall we check?’ 

• ‘Thank you for pointing that out. Maybe we can look it up together.’ 

These phrases allow them to accept help or disagree respectfully without turning the situation into an argument. 

Practise These Skills Through Role-Play 

Create small, low-stakes scenarios at home where you gently correct your child in front of siblings. Coach them in using one of their polite phrases, and then offer praise: ‘That response made you sound very calm and confident.’ Practising in a safe space builds the muscle memory they need for real-world situations. 

Reinforce Their Efforts with Gentle Corrections and Praise 

If you see your child snap at a peer, intervene gently: ‘Pause for a moment. Let us try saying, “Thank you for the help,” instead. That shows real strength.’ Over time, this prompted replacement will become more automatic. Equally, when you notice them responding well to a correction, highlight it later: ‘I saw how you said “thank you” when your friend gave you a suggestion. That was very respectful and showed real maturity.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Humility Is a Sign of a Believer 

Islam teaches that a core quality of a believer is humility and a willingness to accept guidance, regardless of who it comes from. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verses 2: 

‘This is a Book (Quran) in which there cannot be any doubt; guidance for those who seek piety.’ 

A parent can use this to explain: ‘If the noble Quran itself is described as a “guidance” for believers, it shows that being open to guidance is a sign of a good heart. When a friend corrects you, being open to their point is a way of practising this important quality.’ 

The Prophet’s ﷺTeaching on Correction as Brotherhood 

The holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described the act of correcting a fellow believer as an act of care and love, not an act of humiliation. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 2442, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A believer is a mirror to another believer.’ 

This beautiful analogy shows that when a peer corrects you, they are acting like a mirror, reflecting something about yourself that you might not have been able to see. You can explain this to your child: ‘Instead of feeling embarrassed, try to see your friend as a mirror. They helped you to improve, just as the Prophet ﷺ taught that believers should do for one another.’ 

By connecting this social skill to their faith, children learn that responding with kindness when corrected is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of humility and spiritual strength. Over time, they will understand that their reaction to being corrected matters more than the correction itself.