"What you said???" - Its PARDON!!!

[Flame]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to kill either me or her soon!!!

"What? What you said"

"No, you say pardon."

"Oh. What you said?"

"ITS PARDON!!!!"

How do I get her to say pardon rather than "Wha'?" or "What you said?"?????

Its driving me insane. She's 4 btw - she knows that stupid, idiot, and spoilt brat are things we don't say, so why can't she grasp that pardon is what you do say?

maisym - no problem at all with "what".

How has this thread gone completely tits up?

Rewriting the OP.

"My daughter never says please or thank you - how do I get her to start saying them?"

You'd all be supporting me in that .

It doesn't matter what word is used - the main point of the thread is that the word that I feel is the better one to be used by my daughter isn't, and that it is showing a lack of manners, which I feel should be instilled from the beginning.

All those with "she's 4, give her a break" - when do you intend to teach your children manners and politeness (with whichever bloody word you choose)? Do you not think you're going to have a huge problem when they are 7 and you're trying to break them of the habit???

(Oh and completely agree - swearing is sooo much better than "ain't")

I know a rather posh woman (senior doctor, married to barrister, big country pile, talks with a plum in her mouth) and she says 'toilet'

So I think this u and non u stuff is bolleaux, just ignore it chipbutty

ITA HMC. Politeness matters, words (assuming they aren't actually offensive) don't.

Actually, I've decided to solve the whole problem by adopting "What you said?" I think it's brilliant - clear, expressive and with just a touch of a rap/street vibe about it. I like "What he/she said?" as well.

Hi Hon, I just go with repatition,
'what mum?'
pardon darling?
etc etc
She does know, it does go in eventually, they just like to try it on sometimes.