strange behaviour from dd

[BlahBlahYackedySmackedy]

Ok... a few random concerns I have about DD1 who 8s now 3.10. Please let me know if your children do these things!

She has a thing about water. Despite me giving her plenty to drink (usually ending up on the floor) she is constantly trying to suck water out of things. For example today it was sucking water from her toothbrush, her flannel when washing her face, the duck in the bath and suckin it from her wet hair.

Nursery reported she has been eating sand. Again.... This is not unusual.

Shr hates using names. When i ask her the names of people she goes all shy and will not tell me (even though I'm sure she knows).

She plays by herself, quite a lot. She will play with others but not in an engaging way iyswim. Im not sure when children do play together properly though..?

I'm here to bump for you rather than add anything useful, I'm afraid.

I was going to say the sucking thing sounds normal. But not eating sand. My DD stopped that before she was 18months. DS by the time he was 2 1/2. The fact that nursery mentioned it means they obviously think it a little unusual.

My DS is nearly 3 and will play lovely little role play games with his sister. Not playgroup friends yet though. DD was definitely playing with others by the time she went to nursery at 3 1/2, although she was one of only a few doing so.

Hopefully someone more qualified to help you might be along soon. But probably best to go and have a chat with your HV.

Are you worried about her possibly being on the Aspergers autism spectrum?
Apart from the weird thing about names is her speech developing normally?

Hi op I've just looked up the sand eating and ide like to suggest you look up a condition called PICA I think you might find it interesting.

The sucking water is normal. I think a lot of DCs have a phase of doing it.
iirc DCs don't really play together till about 3 yrs of age and even then some will just play alongside other DCs rather than engage with them.
So it sounds as though most of your DD's behaviours are fine.
As a PP said, eating sand (depending on how often) can be a sign of PICA so it might be worth making an appointment with your HV or GP to have a chat about it.

This may sound like a strange question but does she ever use people's names (other than mummy/daddy/names of siblings/pets)?

Thank you so much for the replies.

I have considered her being asd but it is hard to decide what is her age, what is just personality and what could be a symptom. I have seen a paediatrician regarding her behaviour however she seems very uninterested and regularly rolls her eyes at me.
She has got a speech delay. Only mild and SALT seem more concerned about her difficulties pronouncing her c's.
She is a very challenging child and will have meltdowns daily. She had one within 5 minutes of waking because i called her by her name rather than pony.
She will occasionally refer to people by their names but it is very very rare. When we ask what her friends are called she just whinges at us and tries to avoid it. but she does understand the question.
She shys away from people who she doesnt see often and again will moan or say something really inappropriate like gaga..
i did look at pica but i dont think she craves it. Its because its there I think..

Sympathies, I know it's hard to have a child that is ?ASD. I'm still there and he's 7.

What else do nursery say about her, other than the sand eating? Do they have any other concerns?

It's a funny age and children this age can show odd behaviours, if I was you I would be concerned too but please don't panic as often these behaviours can vanish.

The only advice I can give ( as a mum of 2 dc's on the spectrum ) is follow your gut instinct, if you think something is not quite right than push to get answers.