To think that toddlers should say thank-you...

[Neighboursfan]

...And not 'ta'? I think the reasoning that it's easier to say is silly. My ds is 16 months and can say 'Thank-you' - comes out as dang-do but I'd rather that than 'ta'.

Just be delighted they can offer any approximation of the word! I know a child who is 2 1/2 and can't say any words...

my dd has cp and can't sat thank you but she signs thank you not ta

2 shoes, what are the signs for please and thankyou? please

thank you
dd does sign a long so the hand doesn't go so far from her mouth.
please is the same but it is "please to your knees" iynwim

I HATE TA

tis cheap

Both mine started with "ta" and moved onto "Thank you" quite effortlessly by themselves - they are both very polite. Tbh I'd rather hear "ta" then the "give me some..." "I want some..." that I often hear from other children of my acquaintance.

I don't really think it matters at least they are showing some form of manners rather than just snatching things and running off

my older ones say 'thankyou' now but did start off saying 'ta' at an early age. DS3 is 15 months and if i say 'ta' he knows he needs to pass something to me or take something from me, he understands this simple commuication which i find lovely

he has also started to say 'ta' himself when he would like something and i would rather this than him grabbing it and shouting 'mine', as i said i don't care manners are what are important at the end of the day and not how it is said

but if it annoys you fair enough your entitled!

I don't see anything wrong with babies starting off by saying 'ta', at least it shows they are being taught the importance of please and thank you.

ta for that 2 shoes

ds was laughing at me he said how could I do sign language on the internet

lucyellensmum.
Please is four fingers of right hand pointing to top lip, pull fingers away and down to touch the palm of the hand.
Thankyou is four fingers of right hand on lips then flick wrist back so fingers point away from the mouth.

Would 'cheers' be totally out of the question?

I'd love DS to start saying Cheers

my son has delayed speech and he can say thank you but people dont understand so we tell him to say ta so others can see he is polite i really dont think it matters how they say it the fact they are willingly being polite is what counts

My mum has always said 'Thank you very ta' in a daft voice around her grandchildren - and one by one they've all said it......... now that can be annoying!!

In the West Highlands of Scotland when you ask them if they would like to stay for supper, a cup of tea, would they like a slice of cake, some reply "I don't mind". Apparently it means, yes please.

all pleasant sentments are acceptable to me esp for wee ones so yeah to any ta derivations

for goodness sake woman, why do you care? They are not your children! at least they say it.

my kids learnt ta as its easier to say at a young age. ds at 13months with only 5 words can say ta, he wouldnt even attempt thank you, so its better than nothing!

dont care about other peoples kids, unless they have no manners at all, then that grates at me!

Any attempt by a toddler to show good manners should be applauded in my opinion. YABU

Something noone has mentioned yet: to a very shy small child being pushed to say anything at all to a stranger can be VERY stressful. I was such a child myself apparently (though I don't remember it- it wore off!) and so was my dd when she was a toddler. I used to cover up for her by saying the words for her, at least she learnt them that way. I'd like to add that she has not grown up ill mannered in any way; on the contrary, her school reports have always stressed her good manners.

An interesting one. I have deliberately not taught DS to say "ta" because having grown up near Liverpool I, personally, think it's common. Call me a snob, but I do so there.

So I have decided I'd rather not push it until DS (who's 16 months) can say thank you. I am actively teaching him all the time though. Every time he gives me something I say thank you. Every time I give something to him I say "thank you Mummy". A couple of times I've heard something that just might be his attempt, but I'm hoping that at least by the time he can say it he'll know to do so.

Totally agree about getting a toddler to say anything to strangers. My DS is so so friendly, saying Hello to all and sundry, until someone talks back. Then he clams up and I've yet to get him to say Bye to anyone that's not me or DH. Don't think we'd have much luck with Ta somehow.