3yo DS - is this normal??????

[crockofshit]

DS has just turned 3. He was born prem, but at this stage I don't really think that's relevant.

He's never been much of a talker. He'll happily chat away to me when it's just us two, but in a crowd he won't talk much and rarely chats to other people like his GPs.

He also is really bad at just not answering people. Including me, his Dsis, DH. If he does chat it will be him chatting single sentences to me. There's nothing 2 way about it. Unless I'm asking him if he wants a biscuit, or needs a wee, he just doesn't answer me.

And he just can't / won't follow instructions. He's not in any way naughty, he's a lovely little thing, so placid and self-motivated. But if he doesn't want to do something, he's not going to do it.

Is this a boy thing? Is he 'normal'? Should I be worried?

He starts nursery soon and I'm really worried that he's just not going to be able to comply to simple things like sitting down on the carpet when asked!!

[Binkleflip]

Purely from my own ds experiences; have you had his hearing checked properly by the hospital audiology department (not just hv or gp) to make sure he is hearing clearly with both ears? I wouldn't worry too much about talking to others, that can come with time but if he is having trouble picking out direction or sound from background noise he may need a little help from audiology or sensory support. For kids who have a hearing issue with only one ear it can take a long time to be noticed because they compensate so well by using the other ear and face to face communication etc (lip reading).

If nothing else, make sure the nursery know your concerns so they know he isn't being naughty and help him understand rather than tell him off. Maybe he is just a ponderer, I am and it still gets me no end of grief!

[crockofshit]

Thanks Binkle. He had an audiology check when he was about 15 months and everything was fine. I haven't been worried about his hearing as he can hear a plane coming or the birds singing before I can.

He was speaking late(ish) and the poor little thing has trouble getting a word in when his sister is around who is a HUGE talker. She's going to school in a few weeks so I'm hoping some one-on-one time with him will improve it.

[ilovelamp82]

My DS is very similar. But he's started nursery and he's very well behaved there and follows instruction. Also i find that he'll have more of a 2 way conversation with me over the phone.

Like yours my ds is very self motivated. I spoke to my health visitor about it and she said it's completely normal.

He has lots of friends at nursery and they all seem to flock to him so he must be doing something right there.

I don't think it's anything to worry about.

I also just started him in a coach led trampolining class specifically to see if he could follow instructions and after the first few tries of understanding he has to take turns he's started following instructions a lot better than i expected. Maybe you could try something like this.

[MissusThePoint]

We did try a dance class which he was really excited about but just wouldn't sit down, stand still, listen. He just wanted to run around. :-(

We have tried a gym class where the parents join in, so I was able to try and show him how to sit and listen and taking turns. It was really like holding back an 18 month old though.

It's promising that your DS gets on well at nursery.

[monkeymamma]

I think this is normal. Certainly it's how my ds1 (3yo) is, and his friends' mums have said similar of their boys. Tbh I'm jealous yours will answer re wee or biscuit, mine ignores me until I'm blue in the face bellowing DO YOU WANT A BiSCUIT? For the fiftieth time. Then waits till I've put ther biscuits away and makes a fuss cos he didn't get one!