How can i get dd to shut up?

[Marne]

DD almost 2 talks from the moment she gets up to when she goes to bed, she' a very bright child that has alot to say but i need some peace she's giving me a head ache. She coppies evrything she hears including the tv, music, dh and me. How can i teach her to shut up?

My 2 ar e8 and 6 and still go on and on and on. In fact i'm sure they think that they are in a single parent family as EVERY conversation starts "Mum". i say "hmmm" "yes" "OK if you like" all the time and then realsie i've told them they can go on the PS2 without realsiing

I sometimes feel that about DS, who is 26 months. I love the fact he talks so much, but it is tiring. He does talk to his toys though and that does help.

marne, I know this will sound dreadful but I think you have to learn to 'tune' it out. I have 2 chatterboxes and by the end of the day, I start to feel like I'm going to have to lock myself in the shed to get a little peace and quiet.

I know in the perfect world I would cherish every little word that came out of their mouths but once I've had the thousandth question about why the grass doesn't fly away when the wind blows, what holds up the sun, why did Mr X die (an old bloke in our street), why did Mrs K at no.11 paint her house blue, why do the cars stay on the road (I could go on but I won't....)

And DS hasn't discovered "why" yet. I know that he will become even more talkative when he does

I often think we bred dd to give ds an audience Even his mates sometimes ask him to stop going on about his passion of the moment. Every sympathy, Marne.

when you have the new baby marne, she can practice her skills on your new one. Babies love mindless toddler chatter!

My DS1 had to have some speech therapy when he was 4. Nothing serious, just pronouncing some sounds incorrectly. Anyway. Our first session was booked for an hour long session. After 20 mins the lady looked at me and said. "Well, I think we are done for today". Looking surprised I said "But wasn't it meant to be for one hour?" She replied "Yes, but normally we have to 'warm them up' a bit to get them chatting, but clearly there was no problem there! He didn't need any 'warming' up!"

My family never stopped teasing me for my first ever school report: 'a bright little chatterbox'
dd heading the same way, but I don't dare complain..

Marne was thinking of this as I drove dd1, 2, & 3 back home from school. DD3 was singing & inbetween talking to ds4. dd3 was sort of humming & talking about her day (the same thing ver & over about her apple being taken)& dd1 was making noise to cover the sound of dd3 singing. This is the usual noise that I have & today I was so aware of it because of this thread!!! Normally my thoughts cover it or just having the radio on.

happy to hear that there is a 'scientific' term for this - the tuning out method!!

A friend took my dd to see the latest HP film recently. When they came out friend said, 'Well, X certainly made sure I didn't miss any of the story and I even know exactly which bits of the book have been left out and what happened in them!'

• sometimes ds's constant yakking makes me feel as though my brain's been put through a blender. Aaargh. Totally sympathise Marne, but there Is No Answer.

Never try and get a child to shut up, be glad they have the ability to talk!

'Blender Brain' - I like it!