Should my child say sorry?

Scarlett said to me last night:

"Tilly called me a bully she's not my friend anymore" 

Me: "Why?"

Scarlett: "Don't know."

Me: "Well if you did something say sorry, if not just ask if she wants to be friends again. If she doesn't want to, find someone else to be friends with and ask Tilly if she wants to be friends again tomorrow."

I thought I was giving her good advice but according to an article I was reading today, I may have done the wrong thing... 

I agree with some of the points she makes, such as: 

'Toddlers should be educated.' Myth - they should play, play, play. I totally agree. 

But I don't agree with this...

I am aware that the above is 'toddler myths' but surely if we don't teach our kids examples of good behaviour from a young age they will grow up to be selfish, ignorant adults? 

Just because a toddler may not 'be sorry' it doesn't mean that they shouldn't be sorry. Should a child snatch a toy and get it's own way and never understand that is not acceptable? 

So if a toddler is 'not sorry' and shouldn't say sorry, does that work the same for a child at school or an adult? 

How would people react if I took something off someone, or banged into someone on purpose or accidentally, is it not right to have manners and say sorry? 

If I saw someone do the above or even a toddler I would expect there to be an attempt of an apology. 

If my daughter snatched something from someone, child or adult, I would expect her to say sorry as that is what I have taught her from when she started talking. 

I don't believe asking a toddler to apologise is 'pointless and misguided' I think it shows that the parent is making an effort to teach their child to do the right thing and it teaches the child to have respect for other people. 

As for making a toddler say please and thank you, I believe these should be among the first words a child should be able to say. Saying common curtseys is a sign of respect and I deem anyone, be a toddler or an adult, rude and disrespectful if they do not say please and thank you- regardless of if you mean it. 

The hugging elderly relatives part, that is a sign of love and affection so who wouldn't encourage their children to do that? 

I'm proud that my daughter is so polite and always says please and thank you when appropriate and hugs her wrinkly relatives, I will pat myself on the back for that. 

Sorry (but not sorry) if this post has offended anyone but thank you for reading. 

Check out www.sarahockwell-smith.com if you want to read the other 'common parenting myths.'