HAve posted about this before, but why do small children 'play' using American accents?

[notnowbernard]

We haven't even got any of the TV channels that show American programmes

Even dd2 (3) is at it. Tis v amusing, but confusing!

If they've seen pretty much any Disney/Pixar dvd they'll have heard American accents...

My DD, nearly 3, who does watch quite a lot of Dora the Explorer doesn't do this yet but I'm sure it'll come.

But I remember doing it myself

Did you not watch scooby doo?

There are hunners of american accents on tv and film. So an early association is with drama/stories and american accents.

Maybe they hear older kids at nursery/pre-school etc (ones who have seen lots of Disney etc) and are mimicking them?

Oh yes, I watched the real Scooby Doo (not the crap that's on now)

I suppose there are loads of influences

Just odd that they only do it when they're playing 'mums and dads' or 'babies' or whatever

They are in role and acting.

Hehe, I remember doing this with my sisters, Anyone else remember telling people what you are going to say before saying it in the 'game'??

I was the bossiest oldest, so I would say (in my english accent) OK, I'm going to say we're going to the shops now and then you will 'ok lets get in the car'

I know it's acting etc

DD1's best friend is of Indian parentage, she talks with an Indian accent. DD doesn't imitate her...

Yep! I did it as a little girl.
Now my DD does it too.

Mind you, I've been known to still do american accents(much to DH's amusement)when playing with her.

Have to say though, dd2 hasn't quite mastered it yet But she's not giving in

don't know why if the dc are not being exposed to it. Seems odd. Dd has the drawl down pat but she has a lot of American friends, generally contact to American people (no tv)

my DS of 5.5 years sometimes asks to play "dardge" ball..... it took me ages to work out it was dodge ball from Chicken Little.

trying to think when my dd does it.

Now she was correcting my pronunciation of American states - Indi aaaaaaaaaaah na mum, not Indiana. I thought that was ok under the circumstances. She is a bit random with it but she can switch it on and off, she is messing about but not really confused.

We were laughing at my two doing it today, they are nearly 6 and 4 and are so funny with the accents.

And everything is "tend" as in "DD1 tend I am a dragon and you are the Mummy!"

Sometimes I stand outside their room and just listen to them.

Yes, Sweetkitty, to the 'tend' thing!

My 2 do that too

Mine don't.
Well, at least I don't think so.
In fact, I am American and my folks can't stop exclaiming over how cute all my kids talk (they mean talking in a very obvious English accent).

When I first came to Britain I was floored to hear little children speak in an English accent, somehow such a thing was unimaginable previously .