I don't have children (not for want of trying) but have had a fair amount of experience with a wide variety of children and one of my friend's children concerns me a little but I don't know if I'm overreacting.
She is now almost 4. She spends a lot of time with her parents' friends - there are some of them that she sees weekly, she see us probably every few weeks. She shows absolutely no interest in any of us, no eye contact, no "hello", no wave goodbye, nothing. If I or someone else gives her something to eat/drink, she will accept but won't make eye contact or say anything.
If one of us initiates playing with her, she will sometimes eventually respond, though even with the friends that she sees very regularly, it often takes quite a long time to persuade her to interact with them and she still tends not to do any eye contact, she doesn't seem particularly aware of who they are, I've never once heard her use a name to call/describe someone. Actually, this is making me realise that I've very rarely heard her speak at all, though I know from things her parents say that she can.
I am pretty sure that her parents don't especially think there's anything wrong or unusual, we are fairly close and speak regularly and I think they would probably have mentioned it. Obviously, I don't want to interfere or offend but her behaviour seems a bit odd to me. I see other children all the time, via friends and family, and she just seems very different to them. My friend's 12 month old, for instance, looked me in the eye and gave me a big smile and wave the other day and it made me realise that this child never ever did that, not even when she was younger.
Thoughts? Does it sound like it would be worth them seeking medical advice or is this just normal behaviour?
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Behaviour/development
Friend's child - is her behaviour something to worry about?
7 replies
notinagreatplace · 31/12/2014 15:57
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