In this kind of situation, how about just saying, "It's a nice job".
That's a good one, actually. I have used it, but perhaps not directly *as* the answer to the comment, but as the next thing to say. You're probably right that it will work as a response. Thank you!
As for the kids learning how to respond to compliments, we're still working on this with GS11. He also still needs work on proper greetings in non-casual settings.
DS has had a bad habit of saying the right thing, but so quietly that the person he's speaking to doesn't hear. It was driving DH crazy, interpreted as rudeness. I finally thought to ask him why he was doing it, and he said that we'd told him not to speak too loudly in restaurants (we were dealing with "what will you have" etc. situations) and he was trying not to do that! Some things one would think were obvious turn out not to be... I made a mental note to try (harder) to remember to ask before I scold in future.
