Manners!

I was just reading about this last night.

The book (will have to check and let you know) basically siad that although they can say the words (please, ta) from a young age, many don't understand what it means so they are just parroting you. My DD is 19.5 months and has said ta for ages but only recently has started saying please and thankyou and not all the time. I just keep reminding her every now and then so she gets used to it but not force it IYKWIM?

Campbell can't even say those words yet!

Perhaps don't try to force Ryan to say please and thankyou yet, just praise him when he does say the words, and he'll get the idea eventually.

Lisa he will get there Caden is still learning some manners but he now says thank you and ta, and when I say "what do you say" he goes "I says" lol - cute

Ryan is still young, so just keep saying "please" and "Thank you" etc everytime you take him out and when you give him something etc etc and he will soon learn that he needs to say it. They learn by copying.

with Caden, I always say to him "ta" before I give him something, and he says it back, and if I want him to say thank you, i do the same, but he often says thank you by himself now.

Edited by Sheza

Yip, Dan's just started with please in the last 3 months, and thank you in the last two weeks. Most of the time he needs to be prompted but he's starting to do it more spontaneously. It's so cute when he says "thank you mummy" without prompting

We are a lot more aware of how *we* ask him to do things - we realised we were not particularly good at saying please and thank you so are working on our own manners

I guess I go slightly against the trend here but Hayden was saying please / ta consistently from around 18mths, less consistently for at least a few months before that.

We did start off with baby sign language at an early age (9mths) so from early on he had a comprension, also started with Ta when we gave him something, progressed to Thank You around 18mths.

However I wouldnt force the issue or expect (ie get grumpy if he didnt use them) at that age, I do now however at 2yrs 2mths (not grumpy LOL but do expect manners).

Use your manners consistently, make it fun and praise loads when he uses his, if you are giving him something prompt with 'what do we say when we are given something, we say Thank You Mummy' (or words to effect of) or 'what do we say when we would like something, we say Please Mummy' all in a light fun voice not school mistress ha ha.

You dont need a book or anything, just make it part of everything you do, thank him for putting toys away or for passing your something or sharing a raisin etc etc

ETA now he is out of highchair and sitting at the table we are learning 'what do we say when we'd like to get down from the table. we say Excuse Me Please' sometimes i have to put my hand on his arm or kind of block him from getting straight down and prompt him with what I said above and then he remembers to say it. If he refused (hasnt really ever cos its not a punishment or anything) I wouldnt force the matter, just repeat what you expect him to say later on.

Edited by kiwikid

Gosh Jake isnt even speaking yet let alone on command!

We just say please, thank you, ta etc at the appropriate place and figure he will say it in his own time....

He has said Ta twice LOL

My girl is 22 months, and has been saying Pease & Fantoo for about 6 months. She even says No Fantoo, Dink Pease Mummy etc.

As suggested above, I just consistently phrased the sentence she should use, and she copied me. Now, if she doesn't say please or thank you I say 'Use your manners please Ash' and she will say it.

I think you are on the right track with starting to teach your boy manners, it will take time & consistency, if he hears it all the time then he will learn the words and begin to say them.

That's what worked for us anyway

All the best! x

naww thats so cute Lisa, Ryans is really good with his words anyways, so yea just keep saying it at thr appropriate times and he will pick it up.

Caden hands me his plate and drink bottle etc now as well and says ta! :)
Off topic but - He put his own rubbish in the bin today! I was very shocked! Clever boy :D