4 Year Old Talking like a "Baby"?

Updated on November 01, 2011
A.R. asks from Rocky Face, GA
8 answers

My daughter is 4 and attends a 3hour a day, 5 days a week preschool. She is VERY advanced in talking, however, there is several children in her class who cannot speak clearly, and some sound like babies. She is doing this frequently and it's very agitating considering she KNOWS how to talk. I might also add that this is the same child that will imitate ANYTHING her peers do and is very much a follower. Any ideas on how to break this habit? I've tried explaining that the children in her class cannot help that they talk that way, and that she should be a BIG girl and teach them how to talk, and it just doesn't settle. PLEASE, any advice is appreciated.

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C.T.

answers from San Antonio on

my oldest brother did that to my mom, he would ask her for "wawa" water and she'd ignore him them as he kept repeating "wawa" she'd say "sorry, you're a baby, babys don't get what they want, they get what I think they need when I think they need it" (he was 4 and my other brother was a new born) so he'd ask "can I have some water please" and she would get it for him. I guess my mom was luck he only did that twice. and none of us ever did that. My mom was very into the "tough love" kind of parenting.

1 mom found this helpful

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L.C.

answers from Dover on

"Ooooh, I'm sorry, I can't understand you when you talk that way. Use your big girl words and then I can understand."

Then you ignore all conversation until she uses her big girl words and voice. When she only gets your attention when she is doing it the way you want, she will quickly get the picture.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I would just not respond to her when she talks this way. The less attention she gets for it, the better. When she starts talking this way, tell her, "I'm sorry honey, I can't understand you when you talk that way. You will have to use your big girl voice." Lather, rinse, repeat.

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Teach her to be herself.
Not a copy cat.
Because later... once she is in elementary school, this will either still occur or not... but with different words and tones of voice and behavior.

Try not to concentrate on how she is talking... but on, teaching her to be herself and her own person. To have her own identity.
Because, as you said, the kernel of the problem, is that your daughter imitates ANYTHING and is very much a "follower."

Since my kids were Toddlers, I have always emphasized & taught them, to be themselves... and to know themselves and to know right/wrong, appropriate/inappropriate etc. and to not just copy other kids. They have their OWN... ideas and thoughts.
Because in Elementary school... things get more, socially complicated. And a child has to know themselves and have their own self-assurance.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

What DVMMOM and Lisa C. said. Get the preschool teacher on board too. And be consistent. You must ignore the behavior every time and if you do, this will all go away in a day or two. Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

Don't respond to her. If she is asking for something in baby talk or even just trying to have a conversation with you, just tell her "My big 4 year old knows how to speak like a big girl, so I'm not going to listen to this. When you want to ask/ talk to Mommy like a big girl I'd love to talk to you about it" No more conversation, no more attention to it. You've clearly told her your expectations on how to communicate. Don't go any furhter, or it is giving her the attention she wants for talking like that.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Greensboro on

My 4 year old, who is also advanced in talking and vocabulary, recently likes to talk like a baby, and I have observed other girls doing this around the same age. It may just be a stage that they are going through. I agree with the other responses that it is best to ignore it and not respond unless she uses her "big girl" words.

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

ignore her when she talks like that and tell her you cant understand her use her big girl voice worked for us!

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