To teach my DD to say ta?

[Kasterborous]

Instead of thank you. DD is fifteen months old and can say words now. She can say please, of sorts,when she feels like it. I don't like the word ta much myself, but I would rather she said that than nothing. Or should I just try to use thank you from the start.

[Eskarina]

Why not just teach her to say "thank you" if you don't like "ta"?

[monicalewinski]

Teach her what you want - I did "ta", but I use the word myself so it didn't feel odd to me. If you don't say it yourself normally, then don't teach DD it.

[babyhmummy01]

Personally I can't stand "ta" but better that than nothing.

Would try thanks first though

[MerryOnMerlot]

Stick with Ta for now. It's easy for them to say so she'll get positive praise for saying it right MONTHS before she masters "thank you". I used to just say "ta" and "thank you" at the same time so DC's knew it was the same thing iykwim.

Not sure that helps, but don't beat yourself up about it. As long as you're talking to her and interracting as much as possible she'll pick everything up at her own pace.

[Sarah1611]

Or the sign for thank you? I also don't like the word 'ta' so have tended to use the baby sign for thank you (other signs too) and then say thank you when they're able. I always felt that 'ta' was a bit casual! It makes total sense as its easier to say but it felt a bit like 'cheers' to me!

[FionaJT]

Personally, I don't like it, and got really sick of people saying 'ta-aa' to my dd in a singsong voice when they handed her something. Speak to children properly and they will learn to speak properly, I don't see why on earth they can't grasp 'ank oo' or similar just as quickly, and it's good for them to have challenges!

[MoominMammasHandbag]

I would just tech her "thank you" myself.

[GTLH]

I understand what you mean, I am a thank you person myself....

However, My son is 23 months old and all I say is thank you around him, he has chosen to say ta himself and I am sure will start saying thank you when he is able... We tend to have long conversations (he gabbles in his language and me in mine, we both understand each other) so if you keep up with thank you, she may very well use "ta" until she is able to say thank you, it will come in time .

(better than nothing, at the end of the day :) )

[formica5]

We did thank you with my boys. Hes now just 2 and says it constantly. I think ta is fine though. It means the same.

[Jollyb]

Taught DD thank you from the beginning - no need for a 'ta' stage IMO. She's 2 1/2 and now sometimes says 'thanks mum' like a teenager.

[tupuedes]

Its probably better to teach children 'correct' speech first so they understand it rather than indoctrinating them with colloquialisms. They'll thank you when they start applying for jobs.

[NoelHeadbands]

I did Ta with all of mine

Amazingly, all three can now say 'thank you' just fine

[BoomChicaBoom]

I'm personally not keen on the word 'ta' and said 'thank you' to my ds. When he started talking he then made a kind of 'tan too' sound which gradually became thank you so I don't think you need to have 'ta' as a kind of in between word IYSWIM. Your choice though!

[BeetleBugBaby]

I started with 'ta' don't see the problem with it, DD grasped it briefly and now at 23 months she says 'thank ooo' and equally adorably has started saying 'sowwee'

[TarkaTheOtter]

I'm not too bothered about niceties like please/thankyous etc until she is a bit older, so won't be bothering with ta. I say thank you for her when someone else gives her something, I'm hoping she'll pick it up herself in time.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

We did "thank you", mainly because my mum can't abide "ta"! They do learn how to do it, so if you don't like "ta", just go straight to "thank you"

[Pozzled]

I went straight to thank you with mine, and they picked it up pretty quickly.

It's one of those things where there's no right or wrong, and it makes absolutely no difference in the long run- so go with whichever one you prefer.

[PrettyKitty1986]

Better to say 'ta' than risk your child being like my ds2...who from the age of 16 months would very politely pronounce it 'Fuck you!' to all and sundry.

[Pozzled]

PrettyKitty I can see that that could be awkward!

[CloudsAndTrees]

No, I wouldn't go with 'ta'. It's not like he's going to come across as rude to anyone at two years old. Just say thank you for him even wry time it needs to be said, and he will learn to say it in his own time, without being confused about what he is supposed to say.

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

I've never done ta with my DD. Ok she's only 13 months and we haven't got past mama dada and nuh yet, but I really don't want her to say it.

I always say thank you in "ta" circumstances and I cringe when people say ta to her.

[Kasterborous]

at PrettyKitty1986 will see how DD goes. The first time she said please voluntarily was when she was after another malteser little monkey.

[Kasterborous]

PrettyKitty1986 was supposed to be in bold not strike through I got mixed up!