Is this normal behaviour in a 4 year old ?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter has verbal dyspraxia and some developmental issues. We are seeing the consultant pead soon, and I'm making a list of concernes. I just wondered weather this is normal or not.
When she meets someone she likes the look of she says to them "I love you". She's said it to strangers on the bus and shop assistants. It isn't to get a reaction, she's very sencere about it. She also gets confused with male and female, his hers, brother, sister etc.
She loves adult attention, although dosn't always know what's appropriate. Is this normal, or should I add it to the list?

The instant "I love yous" sound unusual. My ds1 is 3.5 and understands fine the difference between like, love and dislike, even to the extent of using them for effect. Also, not distinguishing between the sex of people sounds unusual for this age.

Thanks. I though so, but don't know that many 4 year olds to compare.

My 2 yr old DD does this,think its uaual behaviour in this age,maybe not later on though.Also agree that they soon learn about He and she etc. by 4 yrs definitely IME.

She is very affectionate to adults but often seems scared of children her own age. She loves babys though.

I agree that this does sound unusual. I would put it on your list anyway; it's something to discuss with the paed.

It can be qute embarassing when she tells shop assistants she loves them. One lady said "What did she say?" then my daughter shouted out "I love you all the world!". I still had to translate.

bump, for more mums of 4 year olds.

DS (4) has some odd social behaviuors and had a speech delay but he wouldn't do this. It would strike me as odd tbh as by now even he is grasping quite clearly the difference between mummy and daddy etc and strangers.
He also is starting to udnerstand emotions and uses love/hate/ don't like you as ways to express his emotions and control situations.

The he/she thing wouldn't bother me, DS knows grandad is a boy but he frequently mixes up the actual words he and she.

I guess the killer question to me is:
"you are in the local playground and you turn your back to get a wipe out of your bag. A friendly stranger is passing and leans over the fence to talk to your child. Does your child a) run away screaming in fright
b) shyly backs away
c) smile or say hello but nothing more
d) chat away merrily but keep distance
e) go up to the stranger and touch them/ engage fully

IMO b, c or d are expected, a) or e) might be worth checking out.

DS does announce things to random strangers I must admit but they tend to fall into 2 catorgaries, shop assistants that I am already engaged with or older 'grandma' type looking women who are smiling at him.

Its actually about reading signals, the nice looking older woman who gets onto the seat opposite you and smiles appreciativly when your DD is cute/cheeky/happy is already communicating with body langauge and alot of toddlers (and adults) will happily take up that communication and start talking.
On the other hand the distant man in a suit who hasn't even made eye contact is not communicating at all and very people would feel comfortable beginning a chat including children.

I guess what I'm saying is - who exactly is your DD talking too? and was she actually continuing a 'conversation' which she thought they had already started by smiling at her?