2 year old - shy, or....

[LittleLadysMama]

My little one was 2 at the start of the month. She's great fun, her speech is brilliant and she's started putting sentences together, loves to sing and dance, but my worry is that she's not like this in all situations and I'm not sure if its 'normal' for her age, or if I should be concerned something else might be at play.

She is with a childminder half of the week and seems ok there, I get photos and videos of her singing, dancing and sometimes playing with the other kids, although they all seem to prefer doing their own thing at times which seems normal for so young but no concerns from her childcare setting.

When she's at her grandparents she is generally OK too.

When we're in company with other family or friends though, she can sometimes refuse to talk for a long time until she comes round a little, or sometimes she's painfully quiet the entire time. She doesn't cry or get upset, she can be a little clingy to me but she'll still go and sit beside others, read books etc but she just doesn't speak or act the way she does when she's at home. No chat, no smiles etc 🤷‍♀️

I'm honestly not sure if I'm just worried over nothing, or if there's something to be concerned about here...
She was only little when lockdown happened and I'm sure that will have had an impact, but I don't want to solely blame that...

Anyone experienced anything similar?

She's 2 OP! She's like this in places where's she feels secure abs happy, it's perfectly normal for her to be more reserved when there are people around that she's not as familiar with.

She sounds lovely btw

I have a lockdown DS who is so comfortable and himself with us, the babysitters (his grandparents) and at toddlers but if anyone else visits he freaked in the beginning but now just acts shy and clings to me. I think its normal, they were not used to people. Enjoy your DD x

My daughter is 2 and is the exact same. When at home she is so loud, can speak relatively well for her age, plays with her sister, aunties, grandmother. At nursery she is fine but as soon as we go anywhere new she wants to be picked up or clings onto me. I am guessing it just is a lot for them to take in when in new environments :)

Thanks for replying @Plantsandwine
It's reassuring to know its not just my little one, it's so easy to worry that your child is the only child behaving that way so it helps to know we're not alone 🙌

Thanks for taking the time to post @aimzxd
Glad to know we're not alone 🙌 they'll get there in their own time ❤

Thank you @PanicBuyingSprouts
You're right of course, I find myself always worrying about something 🤦‍♀️ she's a little star!

My daughter was much worse than what you describe at that age OP, she didn't really like hanging out with anyone except me and DH, even grandparents who she would see multiple times a week! Never really liked going to nursery, would get a bit upset at drop off for school for a while.

Happy to say she's now a very normal, happy 6 year old, doing great at school, loves her extended family, lots of friend.

She will occasional get a bit upset about a new or different setting e.g. a drop off birthday party or a club if she doesn't know where it is and what they will be doing, it's just her personality but she gets more and more confident the older she gets.

Please don't worry, your DD sounds very normal!