Hi Moms
I am extremely frustrated with my son who is almost 4 years old! Here's my situation. I have become really close to my neighbor and spend alot of time with her going on walks, bbq's, playdates ect. However, she has a daughter whom just turned two & does not speak at all. She just mumbles,cries, screams and my son went from talking to know mimicking her and sounding like the little girl. He adore her so much that he is constantly looking out the widow to see if she is home.The little girl comes over all the time & they cry everytime we have to seperate. At school his preschool teacher has told me the same thing that it seems like he is going backwards & talking like a baby. My son has an older brother so he has always been very talkative & he knows how to speak. I don't understand why he is doing this. When he talks like a baby I tell to stop & to talk right or I tell him I will ignore the baby talk, but it only gets worse. I don't know what to do. I mean we are next door neighbors so I can't keep him from her, but when around her it gets worse! Any suggestions or advice? Thanks
Well...nothing has really changed. I mean they are starting to look like an old married couple these two! It's actually getting worse! If we go over for a playdate I tell him in advance that he is a big boy & to teach her to talk like a big girl. It works for a little then he just starts to talk like a baby! I am just going to see how long this last because he gets it but I have to remind him often. I do think the little girl needs help but Its not my place to suggest it. I think in time my neighbor will figure it out. For now I will allow him to play with her because they have a good relationship, sometimes they fight but I know they are bored without each other & I know that he only acts like this when we are with her. At school he gets it now & has improved. Thanks
Try telling him that she can learn to talk by hearing him talk normally?In other words, play the "big brother concept" card....might work.
Sounds like his big brother probably talks FOR him, and that he sees the attention this younger child is getting from all her baby babble. I agree with the last post, tell him he needs to act his age! I'm confident this is a phase he'll get bored with, but I understand your frustration in the meantime. Make sure his teachers are on the same page as you as well, reminding him that he is capable of speaking like a 4 year old, and you expect him to speak as such. Best wishes!
It sounds frustrating but your child has found a way to commiunicate with this child so they understand each other. I speak spanish and when I come across someone who speaks the language I automatically start speaking spanish too. My daughter used to do this too with her younger cousin. I told her I cant understand you when you speak that way, speak to me in your own words not your cousins. She got the hint and would drop the baby talk around me. Also praise him , tell him how well he sounds when he speaks like a big boy. Hope this helps.
Hi E.,
My 4 year old has been doing the same thing! He's an excellent talker, but totally mimics a smaller boy in his preschool who's language is still very baby like. I tell you, it's like fingernails on a chalkboard!!! (LOL)
No answer being perfect, the thing that works best is saying, "hey, talk like a 4 year old." and, like you said, ignoring it. If my son wants something, but decides to ask for it like a baby: he does not get it. I even act like I didn't hear / understand him. He switches back to his usual talk pretty quick most of the time.
Good luck!
t
Maybe give him the best of both worlds.
Tell him that he's allowed to PRETEND PLAY "baby talk" when you're at home and you'll sometimes play along too. But not in public. And when you ask him a question (or if he needs something from you), he needs to speak in his big boy voice or you will not hear him.
Maybe if he doesn't feel like you're battling him, and he has a bit of control in it, he may be more opened to listening.
I think kids tend to go through this baby talk stage. I used to tell my daughter I can't understand and walk away. She came up with word eventually.
Just wondering, is the litte girl getting intervention? I mean, she should be in therapy by now if she has no language at age two. I would suggest this to her parents.
As for your son, I would not be too concerned, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. You might try stepping up your "I don't understand what you want" button. Don't do things for him without him using the right words, just pretend not to understand, and praise him when he uses the language you want. Try to set him up to get more out of using it and not like what he gets when he doesn't. I might suggest that you tell him that he cannot play with his friend if he is using baby talk at home. Do not take the friend away as punnishment, but set it up so that playing with the firend is the reward he gets for using his 4 year old words, and let him use as much baby talk with the girl as he wants (kind of like letting them only have the pacci in their beds.)
It probably won't last too long.
M.
