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Original poster

Does your toddler say please and thanks?

40 replies

1jan2020 · 31/10/2022 07:04

What age should you ideally start teaching this and what age did your child actually start saying it without being prompted?

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Craftybodger · 31/10/2022 07:17

I used it from the beginning, before they could talk. I also used sign language, which continues to be a good prompt even as teens.

Montague22 · 31/10/2022 07:19

Just model it and say it on their behalf. Some children can find the pressure to say it too much. I’d say it’s automatic by 6.

Caspianberg · 31/10/2022 07:22

Yes 2 year old does

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MissHoney85 · 31/10/2022 07:25

DD is 22 months and I've just always modelled adding "please" and "thank you', e.g. always "more please" instead of "more" and "no thank you" instead of "no". She seems to be getting the hang of it. I give her lots of praise when she says it and if she doesn't I just remodel it for her.

gandalf456 · 31/10/2022 07:31

My eldest had speech and language issues so much later than others. The important thing is, while it's good to model good manners, don't let relatives or friends pressure you

Original poster
1jan2020 · 31/10/2022 07:31

Yes 2 year old does

That’s impressive! I will keep modelling it.

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bookish83 · 31/10/2022 07:38

Yes 2 year old does. Not consistently but quite a lot! We have modelled since a baby and will also prompt to say it now and in the right context

Beachloveramy · 31/10/2022 07:43

As soon as they can talk I'd be reminding them... I think about 18m - 2 my now 4yo was saying thank you. I think please is a little more difficult at a young age.

Raindancer411 · 31/10/2022 07:52

Both of mine where by 2 years. In fact thank you for the first thing other than mum and dad he said. When out walking with the buggy I I would say thank you if people moved for me and he picked it up. Everyone use to go awwwww over it so I was quite proud he was polite.

My daughter is now saying "pleaaaa" as she cannot say s (apparently common until they are 7 in some cases to not be able to make a s sound). She says thank you to people when we are out too and to us.

As people say, keep modelling it :)

Violettaa · 31/10/2022 07:54

My 2 year old does too - I don’t think it’s unusual. It’s not something I ‘started teaching’ her, it’s just been the communication she’s been used to since the day dot.

Mommabear20 · 31/10/2022 07:55

My 2 year old knows to say please and thank you. She's 28 months and knows to say it without being promoted 90% of the time, only time she needs prompting is if she's super excited about something 😂

SamanthaVimes · 31/10/2022 07:56

My 2yo is pretty good at remembering to say it. If she doesn’t I just repeat what she said with the polite bits added in.

I make sure I am polite to her & DH as well.

Flittingaboutagain · 31/10/2022 07:56

My 15m old signs thank you and this week has started saying her version of it. Obviously not unprompted yet but mimics it every time I do it to her.

Rinatinabina · 31/10/2022 07:59

3yr old says it automatically now, especially outside home. But DH and I always say please and thank you to each other, I don’t think we taught her as such, maybe a few prompts etc

Theydoyaknow · 31/10/2022 08:00

Yes, mine always did from the time they could talk. I am not strict on a lot of things but that was important to me.

kkLeeNex · 31/10/2022 08:03

As a previous poster said it's just about modelling, not necessarily something you teach.
My 2 year old says please, thank you, excuse me and you're welcome. Make it part of normal communication and it will come naturally!

40andfit · 31/10/2022 08:09

My oldest always said P and T without prompting at 2 now she is 6 she needs constant reminding. Like everything in parenting nothing is permanent.

CoalCraft · 31/10/2022 09:16

My nearly-two year old has recently started saying please (or actually "peas"...) and pointing when she wants something. "Ta" was actually her duds

CoalCraft · 31/10/2022 09:17

Posted too soon...

"Ta" was her first word and she still mostly uses that but will parrot "thank you" ("dak oo") if prompted.

Circe7 · 31/10/2022 10:16

When my 2 year old whines or shouts at me for something I tell him to ask nicely, at which point he will usually speak properly and add please. I’m trying not to give him what he wants if he’s rude when he asks. I try to model good manners back to him.

He will say sorry too (usually without much conviction) but I don’t generally make him say that.

Newpuppymummy · 31/10/2022 10:19

17-month-old always says thank you. Still working on please

Alfredo674 · 31/10/2022 10:24

Children will model what they hear. I always say please and thank you when speaking to my children. My just turned 4 year old is extremely polite, people always comment on it. My 2.5 year old will say please and thank you and your welcome quite often, I encourage him to say it when he doesn't but it's important to remind them of it also. I hate bad manners.

GAW19 · 31/10/2022 10:25

My 18mo says thank you
My 3yo has been saying please and thank you consistently since 2 Smile

Mosik · 31/10/2022 10:32

We did it from as soon as they could speak.
It took until about 4 for it to be automatic and unprompted. You have to be relentless.
Funnily enough they would say "please may I leave the table" long before.

Numbat2022 · 31/10/2022 10:32

Three year old says thank you reasonably consistently. Please requires a reminder or just a look. He's super polite outside the house, which is a relief!

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