Before they could talk, we tried out a few signs. Please was 'pat self on chest'. It was cute watching them go 'pat pat' when they wanted something, before they could say, 'peees'.

We've had ups and downs, times when the manners are lovely and other times it's chaos. *sigh*. So, during one of our low times , we invented The Manners Hand. Each child drew around their hand. In each finger, they wrote, Please, Thank you, Hello, Good bye and Excuse Me. They decorated them and were quite pleased with their craft. Then when they remembered their manners, they'd say, "I noosed my Nammers hand, did I Mum?"

This is great, Monnie. I'll remember this one: "reward direction not just perfection!!!"

I agree modelling and (reasonably consistent) positive encouragement for effort works wonders. Come to think of it .... works on me .....