3 year old taking toys from others...possible speech delay what's the best way forward?

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

He's not mine but I look after him often and he has recently been going to playgroups...his Mum has not taken him before but he has been around lots of other cousins etc so he IS used to other DC.

I have been taking him to one group a week and he has a habit of just casually shoving kids off things...so a child on a trike or a hopper...he'll walk over, put his hand out and shove till they fall off.

His language is quite probably delayed and his Mum is persuing a hearing test....I walk over when this happens and give the child back the toy and say "No X...NO pushing....this boy was playing with the bike"

Or words to that effect but I get the feeling it's not "going in" somehow. Similarly...he will see a toy he wants...a ball or whatever and not seem to see the other child already attached to the toy...so he focuses only on the toy and just grabs.

I am trying to make him notice when I give the toys back "Look...this boy had the truck...give it back"! But again...it doesn't seem to sink in somehow.
Is this normal?

My DC were both shy, clingy types and would never have had the nerve to do this...what#s the best approach?

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

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[Ineedmorepatience]

Try reducing your language eg. Say child's name, pause then say "stop pushing" "stop taking toys" or even just say childs name and "stop"

If you use lots of language with a child with a delay he is not going to understand what you are saying and will just switch off.

Good luck

[hillyhilly]

My ds was similarly "forthright", it is not necessarily down to speech problems just typical toddler self centredness.
Just watch him (like a hawk) and keep correcting him. My experiences of playgroup with my ds couldn't have been more different ( & less enjoyable) than they were with dd!