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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Just wondered what you think

16 replies

thethirdwisemonkey · 02/02/2007 16:22

My ds is a very sunny 20 month old who is beginning to get more chatty. When we're out and about he shouts hello and waves at everyone, other children, adults, sheep in fields, whoever !! Anyway I've noticed many people ignore him. Personally I always reply to children that talk to me as I think it's rude not to. I don't want to discourage him as he is so jolly and sociable. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this or what your thoughts are??

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southeastastra · 02/02/2007 16:24

ah my son was like this too (stage didn't last long) some people get embarrassed when children talk to them. he sounds lovely!

Weegle · 02/02/2007 18:56

I'm like you too - always say hello to a child who says something. I once read somewhere "always smile back at a baby as you don't want to be the one to break their belief that the whole world loves them" - I'd like to think this should apply to little people too. Afterall, it's just good manners to acknowledge someone who says hello!

fuzzywuzzy · 02/02/2007 19:09

I always smile at little children who do that it's so incredibly quite...

My dd2 on the other goes round declaring her undying love to everybody, our tescos shop is an event, with her going 'I love you' to fellow shoppers, and if that illicits no response, she goes up a notch 'I LOVE YOU!!!'..., she's two and I'm hoping she'll stop it very soon, although we generally get smiles and people do stop and talk to her...

fuzzywuzzy · 02/02/2007 19:09

quite I meant cute...

Original poster

thethirdwisemonkey · 02/02/2007 19:36

Ahh thanks for your replies ladies nice to know i'm not alone .. fuzzy - I think your dd sounds ACE !!!

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Heavenis · 02/02/2007 19:42

My ds2 has always been chatty. He used to get louder if they didn't answer him. I just used to say 'Oh aren't they talk to you' and talk to him about something else.

morningpaper · 02/02/2007 19:44

I think people are TERRIFIED of being thought of as Peederfiles, so they don't LOOK at children and are terrified of behaving as though they think children are being "cute."

Only in Britain would adults refuse to return the greeting of a lovely baby!

helenhismadwife · 02/02/2007 20:42

I always think its really sad when people dont reply to a tot who is talking to them I remember reading the same thing as weegle.

Here in France its not an issue, even the adults still talk to strangers its considered very rude not to say 'bon jour'

WigWamBam · 02/02/2007 20:45

Lots of people don't know what to say to a baby, or how to react, so they just don't do anything.

Although I have to say that I have on occasion spoken to or smiled at a baby and been given a mouthful by the mother - in a "Wotchoo lookin' at?" way - maybe people are wary of that happening to them.

gemmiegoatlegs · 02/02/2007 20:48

my dd(18 m) also shouts hello at passes bye. Or more like"HI-ya" in her most chavvy voice. just about everyone she shouts at loves it and stops to chat, with my little lady muck. I am very much oop north. Is this a north/south divide thing?

cornflakegirl · 02/02/2007 20:55

My 20m DS has started saying "hallo gorgeous" - to pretty much anyone. Including a bloke in the library, who, as my husband put it, wasn't very gorgeous. Some people definitely aren't sure how to take it!

LowFatMilkshake · 02/02/2007 21:06

My DD is 3 and says "thank you very much", "pardon me", "sorry sweetheart" and "hello gorgeous" to anyone and everyone in the right circumstances - ie paying for something in a shop, burping, bumping in to someone etc.

People who ignore children who make an effort to be sociable are just ignorant. You can bet they would raise more than an eyebrow and complain to you if your DC called them a w*nker or swore every other word, like some of todays teenagers!

Original poster

thethirdwisemonkey · 02/02/2007 22:11

I agree low fatmilkshake, I mean if they are pathetic enough to be worried about being classed as weirdos if they answer a small child (which is v.weird) they could at least smile ignorant gits!!!

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soph28 · 02/02/2007 22:19

my ds is just like this too! He's 22 months now and has good speech so he tends to have quite good converations with complete strangers now! About 3 months ago we were at HV Clinic and I was BF DD when ds ran out into the waiting room are and yelled 'HELLO' whilst waving both arms above his head, he then proceeded to the first elderly lady and very excitedly informed her that there were 'toys in there' pointing to the clinic room!
I find it very endearing and don't want to discourage his natural enthusiasm and sociability. I always like to respond to children when they chat- it's such a shame when people ignore them.

soph28 · 02/02/2007 22:20

lol- lowfatmilkshake that's so like ds- he says 'bless you' to anyone he hears sneezing!

soph28 · 02/02/2007 22:27

it is awful that people are worried of being thought of as paedophiles. I remember once (before I even had kids) I bumped into a wee girl (must've been about 6) with a massive shopping trolley full of food. I was going back to my car and she and her smaller brother were playing outside the supermarket while their mum was shopping. The girl was spinning in circles and basically her head caught the corner of my trolley, it looked really sore and she was howling. So I could either just leave her or take her and her brother into the supermarket to try to find her mum to explain what had happened, which I did. It was awful though cos she was crying, people were looking, I had no idea who I was looking for and when we did find her I was just about to explain when the mum grabbed her away and marched off without so much as a 'thanks for coming to get me'!

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