I rarely ever hear anyone use "may I?" anymore...is it gone or are we still teaching our kids this?
2007-11-26 22:48:03 · 12 answers · asked by Smiley 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Of course, "please" is still the magic word! So...is "Can I.....Please" Still OK?
2007-11-26 23:36:48 · update #1
i teach my children to be polite, they have to say "may i", "can i" is asking if they are capable, "may i" is asking if they are allowed to.
someone just commented the other day about my children being polite, they sounded surprised.
i guess it is a dying thing these days.
2007-11-26 22:52:05 · answer #1 · answered by Havanah_A 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I make it fun. I have a 22 month old and I raise my 3 year old niece. When they say "Momma(My niece calls me Momma, because I'm like the only mom she ever had) can I(insert what they want to do)?" and I'll say "I don't know, can you." Then they giggle and ask "Momma MAY I(insert what they want to do)?" And I'll give the propper response.
What I used to say when I was an assisant teacher, the kids would ask "Miss Taylor, can I go to the bathroom?" and I'd say "I sure hope you can!" and they'd laugh and ask with the word "may".
I think it's polite. "May I","Please" and "Thank you" are the most polite words out there.
Good luck!
~Taylor
2007-11-26 23:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by Jasmine 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
My teacher in 4th grade always insisted on "may I" and wouldn't let us got o the bathroom or whatever we were asking unless we asked with a "may I."
I plan to teach my kids to say "may I" because it just sounds nicer and more polite.
2007-11-26 22:52:05 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Mommy to 3 year old Jacob and baby on the way♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For those; that polite attitude was vanished;But for those who value the obedience to thier ancestors still uses those sweet words''MAY I'' and ''CAN I''.For me i teaches my kids the value that i inhereted from my ancestors;being polite to others.
2007-11-26 23:02:48 · answer #4 · answered by donnabellekim 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
this is a matter of grammatically correct vs. incorrect, NOT polite vs. disrespectful.
"May I" is asking for permission.
"Can I" is asking whether or not a person is capable.
"May I go to the movies?" = "Am I allowed to go to the movies?"
"Can I go to the movies?" = "Am I able to go to the movies?" or "Am I capable?"
Maybe you are able to go to the movies (nearly everyone is) but Mom and Dad aren't going to ALLOW it. Therefore, "May I" is always correct and "Can I" is not.
2007-11-27 00:13:11 · answer #5 · answered by Who's sarcastic? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I find that 'may I' sounds very old fashioned. My kids and her friends usually say 'can I please'. Literally it makes no sense as anyone CAN... but that is the way the kids around here phrase it.
2007-11-26 22:59:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Dad, can I go to the movies?"
"I don't know, can you?"
The world is going to he** in a handbasket, we all have the choice to either throw our hands in the air and become part of the herd, or buck the trends and do what is right because it is right.
I choose the latter.
Peace.
2007-11-26 22:58:00 · answer #7 · answered by Gem 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
though im still single and dont have kids
i think you should still teach kids
on how to be polite
so that they would grow with respect
and being respect by others for their politeness
2007-11-26 22:58:29 · answer #8 · answered by cheekyangel_10 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
its may i in my house
can i to me and my husband means you asking can i go out to play.
can i have a drink implies you dont think your allowed something
can i implies you dont know how to do something
my son says may i go out to play or may i have a drink
2007-11-26 23:43:39 · answer #9 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Children can be very polite without having this ridiculous "may I" thing foisted on them. To subject children to the sarcasm of "yes you are able" etc, is unkind.
2007-11-26 23:07:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋