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Normal 2 1/2 year old behaviour- or something else??

5 replies

BackToB4Beatrice · 20/01/2012 22:14

Thanks for advice in advance!
DD is 2.5 years. I'm possibly over reacting, maybe because I am think that I possibly have undiagnosed/very mild dyspraxia/aspergers. Or at very least show many symptoms.

DD, is social, seems bright, and seems to communicate well enough.
She knows ALL her animals plus noises, knows many colours including shades (black and White), knows numbers 1-10, and is doing some very simple counting. The things that worry me are;

80% of the time she does not use a true pincer grip. She uses her thumb and middle finger.

She frequently swaps between writing with her left and right hand.

She often does not follow instructions (put toys away, put coat on). Does seem to follow instructions when there is something to gain (put your shoes on and we will go to the park)

Sometimes I have to call her name 4 or 5 times to get her to look at me. Sometimes she doesn't even look until I touch her on the arm.

I find myself saying DD LISTEN. Not in a shouty way, but I seem to have to emphasise the LISTEN.

She shows empathy, but sometimes it seems "false".

She also has NO fear in physical things/capabilities. She would happily launch from the middle of the stairs/ dinning table. I don't just mean boisterous, I mean seriously seems to lack judgement in regards to safety. She is physically capable and is not "clumsy".

My own "symptoms" include all the social problems listed as dyspraxia symptoms, struggle to tell left from right, can vary between disorganised and"flakey" to obsessive and compulsive. I also am directionally challenged (!) and sometimes lack empathy, or at the very least struggle to show it.

Am I being paranoid? Or do you think there is something to think about?

TIA

Beatrice x

OP posts:
workshy · 20/01/2012 22:15

sounds like a normal 2 1/2 year old to me

LoonyRationalist · 20/01/2012 22:21

Many if not allof the things you have mentioned are normal in 2 year olds.

However if you are concerned then you should take that seriously.

Why not talk to your health visitor, do they do a 2 year check in your area?

tigerlillyd02 · 20/01/2012 22:22

I have a 2.2 year old and quite a lot of that sounds like him to be honest and I have no concerns about him whatsoever.

I don't think children develop a preference for right / left hands until closer to school age and the same with the way they hold a pen. It's certainly not uncommon for under 3's (maybe older).

She clearly can follow instruction, but as with a lot of 2.5 yr olds, just decides whether or not it benefits her to do so :)

Ds can sometimes be so lost in his own toys, doing role play etc that it just doesn't register sometimes when I say his name. Saying it a bit louder and clearer and in a different tone usually gets a result. But I think that's quite normal too. I sometimes don't register when someone says my name if I'm concentrating and blank everything else out!

I honestly think she sounds perfectly fine to me. If there are any problems, I think it'd become more clear around school age. Most things are considered quite normal at 2 as they're just developing their personality and sense of self.

How is her behaviour?

Wolfiefan · 20/01/2012 22:26

Sounds very very normal!
DD 2 holds pens well. DS still working on it by school age.
Attention span v short. Try getting eye contact when giving instructions. (waving coat in front of face helps too!)
empathy a very adult concept. The world revolves around a toddler (as they see it)
DD does love to lauch herself with no concerns about how far she would fall or onto what. Cue rapid reaction mummy!
I too am compulsive and disorganised. I'm just human after all!

BackToB4Beatrice · 20/01/2012 22:44

Thanks guys. I did think I was over reacting- see that's the compulsive side of me!

She had her 2-year check, passed with flying colours. But I didn't have much faith in the particular HV. DD reeled off all the names of objects in all the books without hesitation, and the HV just seemed to focus on how good that was and I was afraid she was missing other things.

A friends DS has just been dx with aspergers, and I guess that has just made me a bit jumpy!

Thanks again all

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