silly voice, silly behaviour and general silliness

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

it's driving me and dh nuts. dd is 6 and going through a really bad phase of this. Lots of stupid fake giggling - especially if she gets told off - and a really irritating moronic voice. Neither of us really understands why we find it SO annoying, but we just do. Is it being naughty? Do all kids do it? does it irritate other parents? How do we stop it?

[cheesecake]

Thank god for that I thought it was just me

[Jasnem]

Nope, I think it's a girl thing. Both of mine do it.

[tissy]

mine does it, she's 4

[motherinferior]

Maddening, isn't it.

[alexsmum]

ds does it too and he's 6!

[rumtumtigger]

They do it BECAUSE it irritates you

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

so how do any of your respond? It's the one thing that makes me want to lamp her one . Not really, but you know what I mean.

[Norah]

Mine does it too - she's 5.5 and is usually doing it to copy her particularly silly friend ! I just tell her she sounds ridiculous and leave the room ! Doesn't always work - but stops me going completely bonkers !

I presume it's a phase which will be knocked on the head when peer pressure kicks in !

[fennel]

I stop it by treating it as naughty behaviour and punishable (eg by naughty step). Which sounds mean but it really drives me crazy. I also ban talking in baby voices in my hearing. I tell them they can talk like that to each other but not to or nearby a grown up. ditto any discussion of poo-poo-heads etc.

I know it sounds a bit brutal but I'm not stopping them talking or playing like this, just not in my presence. they are welcome to be totally silly elsewhere.