To want my child to learn the proper words for things?

[AmIThough]

A friend offered to buy DC a top that says "ask me to see my moo cow" then if you lift the top there's a picture of a cartoon cow.

Crappy tat anyway but that's not the point.

I said no thanks, as I want DC to learn the proper words for things - I don't see why you would teach a child to call a cow a ' moo cow' or a frog a 'ribbit' (which is another example I've heard) rather than a cow or a frog.

I got told I'm a 'boring fart'.
What do you think? Am I being overly precious?

I've heard a woman at one of those kiddy farm things walking round and talking to her disinterested offspring about the barbers.

Took me a while to twig that she was actually saying "baa-baas" and meant 'sheep'.

Silly cow.

@Butchyrestingface I'm actually wondering when I can use this expression against someone, thanks!

^ see username

YANBU

I have nothing against some childish words, but hearing here's a "moo" would get on my nerves.

I mean, my kids call me "mummy", so they do use baby words, but some are just ridiculous.

I couldn't agree more about "ta" - I don't really know why but I hate it so much too! None of mine ever used that.

Baby words are gross

Ta. Is the absolute worst

Just teach your kids the right words ffs

But re tshirt: you are being a bit too sensitive as it is just a joke and your kid cany read ;) but i still wouldnt put it on my dc because i think it is a bit of a cringe worthy tshirt. And i am not a fart

My son (4) is under SALT due to being hearing impaired, baby talk is very beneficial and they are encouraging us to continue to use it. Apparently one of the ways it works is by really accentuating sounds.

Much easier for my 18mo to say "ta" than "thank you" and it's more important to me that she develops manners!

I don't know. I've known people who absolutely hate hearing "baby-talk". Just drove them batty. I don't think someone can say you're unreasonable if something grates on your nerves. Everyone has something that bugs them. I don't think that the sort of thing you described (the t-shirt) would negatively impact a child's development though, either. But definitely don't put it on your kid if it bothers you.

Always be correct with words with your children,it doesn't matter what others think. It will pay off in the long run,with their speech and understanding of words.

Most kids manage to have manners and say thank you from very young without needing to say "ta"

Ahh, come on, who doesn't say moo cow? You all do it, you know you do. A field fulla moos. You've seen 'em. And baa lambs. Those too.

What do you think? Am I being overly precious?

No, you are clearly not being precious enough. Baby talk is an important stage in human language development and you must not deprive your child or you will do them irreparable harm.

OK, I made up the bit after "development".

I'm not usually so blunt but, ergh just get over it! My son used to call a light a 'boof' my daughter used to call her grumps 'git', pork pies were 'poo pies' we sometimes used the correct words or use the made up words, my children are now 10 and 8 and speak correctly in 2 languages. I refer to a calf as a baby moo cow, and both my children know that it is a calf, in 2 languages.

@AmaryllisNightAndDay

I think it's because repeated sounds and words ending in a vowel sound are easier for babies to say? Otherwise we'd be teaching babies to 'Say mum!' and 'Say dad!' as their first words! But we say 'Say mama! Say dada!'

More serious though is the 'ask me to lift my top' issue. I've seen the adult 'ask to see my dinosaur!' T-shirt, then they lift it over their heads and say 'Roar!' OK whatever floats your boat lol. But getting a child to do it? So many levels of wrong there.

who doesn't say moo cow?

never heard anyone referring to a cow as a moo cow until I saw this thread
or to a meowy cat or to a whoofy dog, sorry.

I heard plenty of "doggy" or "horsey".

One of the adults was saying "We're going to go on the Choo-Choo train." Except it was an electric train. We haven't had trains that go "Choo-Choo" around here in sixty years.

That's rather sad.

I'm not sure thinking that literally is entirely healthy. Life needs some "colour" and imagination.

I'm 41 with a host of academic quals and they will always be moo cows to me!
We have moo cows at the bottom of the garden, sometimes alternating with baa lambs ;)

Ta, is a word used in Birmingham and the black country instead of thank you .
I try my hardest not to use it.

The top sounds hideous.

And I wouldn't buy a top that encouraged children to think that they should lift their clothes for adults to have a look.

Even if it called the animal in question Bos Taurus.

Baby talk or motherese isn't the same as teaching children daft words just because you think it's cute.

I'm with you OP, but I realise I might be a little uptight about things like this. I work with children and admit I have to hide my cringe when they are school age and say things like 'crippies' instead of crisps or 'tommytoms' instead of tomatoes. It's uncomfortable to even type it.

MIL and FIL used to try to get baby DS to say "hiya" and "ta". I know I sound ridiculously tedious flatus ( ) for this but I loathe both words. I know 'ta' is regional, but not from either the region we live in or the region they come from, and I just don't like 'hiya' at all (is it regional??). It drove me mad because I'd rather he learned to say "hello" and "thank you" first!

"Baby talk has been proven to be beneficial to children"

ugh, this makes me groan much more than the OP. In fact, I completely understand why OP would rather call a frog a frog.

It's important for kids to learn that a) you can use a variety of words for one thing and b) figurative language can be used as well as factual.

YABU.

We have quite a few baby names for stuff that we still use and I have one DC at uni and the other doing A levels. We don't do it in front of other people because that would make us wankers, but we do it at home for our own amusement.

I think that baby names for things are a fun part of raising a child but if it doesn't provide you with any fun or entertainment then go for all the correct terms. Just remember to warn your DC that not everyone at nursery school will warm to penis, vagina, testicle etc! Not sure why but if your going down the proper words for things route, it seems to be an issue for some people.