Do you S-P-E-L-L things out in front of your children?

No, I never did. (The kids are grown now.) I figure, if the dog can figure ut when I spell out V-E-T..then the kids could learn the few bad words I would spell out real fast. I just said the word and they dealt with it. If they needed a shot at the doctor, I just told thm up front and consoled them . Over time we developed a better trust. They knew I would not lie to them or withhold information and it worked well for us.

I used to spell things out in front of my son. He is 8 now, so that does not work anymore. I need to start doing it around my 17 month old though because she is starting to understand everything I say.

Yep, used to spell things out in front of our kids when they were little and still sometimes do in front of the grandkids. Until the kids get too smart and yep, we also developed a code similar to your 'Australian blokes' thing. For awhile, hubby and I also went outside and sat in the car and talked while the kids were watching tv or something, especially if it was something regarding them that needed to be talked about right away. Kids do not need to be listening in or hearing all of adult conversation . That is for sure!

I just pronounce those words. And i let them to learn by themselves. But I have problem with their pronunciation now.

Its actually funny since I don't have children of my own but I do this all of the time in front of my nephews because they are 2.5 and 1.5 and they repeat everything (more so the older one) but they both do. Sometimes its funny because we have a bunch of adults and we'll be talking about something and he is paying attention to our every word, so everyone is just spelling out the entire conversation...lol

my child is almost 2years old, some time's we need to spell same word and may be speak in code. It's nothing really matters as long as good for her grow up. i'll do it..

I remember those days. My youngest, 7, is very quick and we had to stop spelling when she was 5 because she would reply, why are you spelling XXXX! Sometimes we talk pig-latin, but DH is teaching her that now. So I don't know what we are going to do? LOL

I gave up on that one a long time ago. Even if you talk in code...it is only a matter of time before they figure it out. They know by your facial expressions and the fact that you are not making sense that you are trying to keep something from them and they'll just figure it out. they are growing older and smarter by the second. I learned very early on that if i didn't want my kids to know something...I just would wait to talk when they were no where within earshot. If you and hubby have to discuss something before making a decision regarding the child, I've found it is best to just tell the child that you need to talk it over with the dad and just be open and honest about it.

I don't think I have ever done that in front of my kids. I just don't speak in front of them regarding topics which I don't want them to hear. Besides, there are really nothing in our family which does not involve the other members. Everyone is part of everything and the kids are never left out.

I just dont say it, if im thinking about letting them watch their fav programmes I just turn it over or dont if I decide id rather watch what im watching. As for food stuff again we just dont say it if theres anychance il not give it to them then I really dont see the need to mention it in front of them.

We use to spell stuff but in doing so we were teaching our son how to spell, once he figured out the bad words, we were so ticked and proud at the same time.

Oh, child easy to study those things they are like, especially the food. When you are eating some thing, child will look at you, even if you just with a bowl in your hand, child will look at you, and want you give it to him. So, I think child are likely to learn those word about food at first, I don't have a child, but I know how child like eating. haha...

In my household we have to spell things around the dog. Yup, the dog. He knows the words ball, out, walk, and the phrase "daddy's home." LOL If you don't want to play ball with him for hours don't say the word.

i'm not a mom yet but soon to be... but i have my nephew and niece and my yougnest cousin that i often stay with and whenever my friends and i talk about stuff that we don't want them to know we ussually use codes or sometimes we write them down cause toddlers are very good at picking up words that they hear eventhough they really don't know or understand what e were saying....

Yes, my oldest daughter and I both use pig latin to talk about something we don't want the younger ones to hear. Never spell out things though as most of them are old enough to spell :). I learned pig latin as a child and am REALLY fast with it, so I do have to slow down sometimes for my daughter to catch up though.

Hi Sillychick I have a 20 month old girl and because she is bilingual, we have to spell the words that we don't want her to hear. For instance when it is almost time for dinner we say 'put the b i s c u i t away,' or 'shall we take her to the p a r k,' and 'don't let her see the c h i p until she has eaten her drumstick.'