Teaching 2yr old manners

[GemWar]

Hello all,

So my story isn’t unusual but looking for some advice! I have a two year (turned 2 in September) and it’s such a struggle to get her to say ‘Ta’ or ‘please.’ She can say both and use to say them fairly well... but recently she just says no and screams... I gather this is terrible twos. But don’t know how to encourage her further.

I make sure I always say please or Ta and when she does say Ta or please (rarely) I make a big fuss. It’s mainly around snacks.. I tired the whole not given in till she said Ta or please which literally results in fit of tears and her screaming no. I am worried I have created a negative association by refusing to give her stuff, as soon as she wants a snack now she is ready to say no and cry.

Any advice would be welcomed! X

@shicky4

thanks for posting this, facing a very similar problem!

Two years olds are confusing! But I guess we are too them as well

Like pps have said just keep modelling it. DS 2.5 says and has always said yes please / please but struggles with thanks. Occasionally he says cheers (not sure where he’s got that from) but rarely thanks / ta and if you ask what do you say or magic word when you’ve give him something he says please again. They’ll get it eventually

I agree with keep modelling.

DS1 is far older but has ASD and often forgets social pleasantries if his mind on other things. Catch his mood wrong and it's not worth the meltdown. Filling the gap with what should be said usually works and he will often copy. He tends to remember his manners when out and about so we have got somewhere.

It takes years and year for kids to learn manners.

I tried to be easy going about it. Not sure what our results are!

Perhaps you could role play with stuffed animal toys and tea parties if your child enjoys this.

We also found Pirate Pete's book on manners helped. (We had 2 other books in that series already...)