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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Incessant talking - all day

38 replies

engelbart · 23/01/2010 10:18

Is this normal in a 4 year old? My dd doesn't stop talking from the moment she wakes up til the moment she goes to bed, so that's about 12.5 hours of continual talking a day. I love her dearly but I'm finding all the talking exhausting. She (obviously) wants me to respond to all her talking and questions so I can't even tune it out, and believe me I've tried!

I've tried encouraging her to have 'quiet time' ie we'll do a jigsaw or drawing together but the talking still never stops!

People keep telling me that girls always talk more than boys and while I think its great shes so good at talking it would be nice to spend some time with her without having the constant chattering!

OP posts:

shootfromthehip · 23/01/2010 10:21

My daughter is exactly the same- the only thing that shuts her up is the TV, otherwise it is continual talking/ questions.

She watches a lot of TV.

School does help and when you aren't together all day you are more interested. It won't be long

Good luck

Friendlypizzaeater · 23/01/2010 10:28

Hmmm, my DS (7) still chats all day about anything, he is really really verbally intelligent but social skills lacking and as for writing forget it ! I agree it is completly exhausting as a simple Hmm, or a yes just wont do, we have to have the full dicussion ...

As shootfromthehip says school will be soon ....

In fact the only thing he doesn't talk about it what he has done at school/eaten

Bumperlicious · 23/01/2010 10:56

Same with DD (2.5) in fact I've discovered that not only does she talk all day she talks in her sleep too!

TV is the only thing that keeps her quiet.

Sarahsmile · 23/01/2010 22:33

laughing as I write this as my DS who is 4 is the same constant talking from the minuite he opens his eyes until going to bed, although lucky as he is asleep within 5 minuites of you saying good night!! He too can talk in his sleep, he was talking since he turned 2 maybe just down to me talking and singing/reading to him since he arrived but yes sometimes a quiet 5 mins "peace" would be nice and will sit qiuet when watching TV especially Gigglebits, which you can hear him giggling if I am in kitchen making tea!!! He starts school this year and am sure the teachers are in for a real "treat"!!!

Sarahsmile · 23/01/2010 22:35

maryz · 23/01/2010 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Linnet · 23/01/2010 23:01

My dd2 is nearly 6 and she does this. She even talks in her sleep!

To be honest there are times when I sort of tune her out, kind of mumble a yes, mhmm now and again.

dylsmum1998 · 23/01/2010 23:15

yep normal, my 3 yr old dd is like this has been forever (or feels like it anyway!) and still natters in her sleep- we share a rooms never any peace for my poor ears

ds was the same when he was a tot, he's now 11 and still talks constantly while awake and asleep.

i like going to nanny and grandads when my nephews are there- they talk to each other constantly and i am not required to join in many conversations with children. i get to talk to grown ups instead

MollieO · 23/01/2010 23:21

Ds (5.5) does this and has done so since he started talking. He talks in his sleep too. He gets into trouble at school for talking but still doesn't stop. I don't always listen .

I am hoping that he grows out of it but am a bit horrified by the posts from those with 11 yr olds still like this!

Katisha · 23/01/2010 23:28

It's normal.

DS1 is now 10 and has learned to shut up when it matters eg at school, but sometimes it's still an endless stream of chunter.

maryz · 23/01/2010 23:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Taramuddle · 23/01/2010 23:56

I'm with you all, dd is 3.8, only stops for telly & books. Makes me laugh to hear her bend her dad's ear at 6.30 in the morning. I think she gets worse as the day goes on though, by tea time it is just a constant stream on conciousness! Sometimes I think my head will explode if I hear anymore.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 24/01/2010 00:02

DD (3) talks constantly. All day. All the time.

Fortunately at nursery school, they refer to her as, 'highly verbal'

Patch66 · 24/01/2010 00:04

And another one ... my dd has just turned 4 and has been constantly chattering and asking enquiring questions forever!!!

The enquiring questions have increased in the last 6 months. They are very reasonable and intelligent questions and I love that she wants to learn and know more but it does get tiring.

Unless she is pretty tired out TV doesn't stop the chatter. She likes to discuss the programme or film she is watching.

DD1 was just the same and she has grown out of thank goodness. She is still chatty and inquisitive but to a reasonable level.

Rosebud05 · 24/01/2010 20:36

TV used to keep my dd (nearly 3) quiet, though she now does a running commentary on that too...

Original poster

engelbart · 25/01/2010 23:21

Hmm it sounds like it's all pretty normal then and it's not something dd's likely to grow out of. I love listening to her chattering but just wish it wasn't all day. I just don't know where she gets all her energy from, it takes me at least an hour after waking up to become remotely chatty whereas she's in full conversation mode as soon as she wakes up!

OP posts:

princessofpink · 26/01/2010 13:11

Laughing! My ds, age 3.5, talks non-stop, I find myself asking him to stop talking so I can clean his teeth/wash his face/get some food in his mouth. My greatest challenge is that he can't pronounce his r's or w's yet, has a bit of a lisp and sometimes can't think of the word he wants, so uses some random creation of his own, it's rare I am wholly sure of what he's on about, and the 'really?!' or 'wow!' response isn't always correct!

EmilyD · 26/01/2010 13:55

My 7 year old is exactly the same, a commentary of life I call it, and yes it can drive you insane sometimes.

Also the constant questions - this mornings ... why don't we fall over when we stand still.

nickytwotimes · 26/01/2010 13:57

DS, age 3, never shuts up either.

Sometimes I think my ears will bleed.

Triggles · 26/01/2010 18:46

DS (3yrs) talks constantly. It starts out at about 5 or 5:30 am with "Oh muuuuummmmmyyyyy oooooh daaaaaddyyyyyy... where aaaaaarrrrrre yoooouuuuuu??? I can heeeeeeaaaaarrrr yoooouuuuu!!!" and doesn't stop all day. But hey, at least he's cheerful, right? I don't anticipate it stopping any time soon - DD was the same way (and still is, and she is 23!!!!)

MadamDeathstare · 26/01/2010 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Horton · 26/01/2010 20:31

Laughing here, too. DD is 3 and the preschool said very kindly when I went to pick her up on her second day 'gosh, isn't her speech good?'

This is kind teacher code for 'does she ever shut up for one second?' I think. The answer is no. She does not. She talks and talks and talks and a fair percentage of it makes no sense at all (silly stories about Po's bottom and what happens when the frog falls down the loo and if you floated up to the ceiling could you touch the sky etc). I find a constant stream of 'really?' and 'wow, that sounds interesting' and 'did you?' works pretty well to keep her happy without having to fill my brain with it too much. I listen a bit but not with my full attention unless she actually says something really interesting.

Slightly disturbed by the idea that she might well still be doing this when she's 7 or older, though!

Babieseverywhere · 26/01/2010 20:47

Another 3 year old who talks constantly. It is not so much the amount as the content.

After asking her to step around a couple of steaming piles on the way toi nursery. She thinks I want to hear about every poo she sees. I have a stream of "there's a dog's poo, people shouldn't let there dog's poo here, mummy. Oh, a big poo, there mummy. Did a horse do that poo"

Argghhh, I don't want to listen to poo talk any more. We do live in an semi-rural location with tons of horses, dogs and cats roaming the area (and damm well pooing)

woose · 26/01/2010 20:49

Yes, my DS 3 is exactly the same. He also does that making up words when he can't think of the one he wants to use. He also comments on other people in the street giving me a commentary on what they are doing. 'Mummy I think that man is going home for his tea now, and I think he will will have sausages, do you think he will?' Also, in Boots on Sunday when a lady said hello to him, he said to me, 'Mummy, I think that lady thinks I am a work of art!' Well this is constant all day long. Not surprised that my DD has not said a word yet at 16 months!

Hoorayhenrietta · 26/01/2010 20:52

We have a 3.5 yo DS and 2.4 DD and they are equally INCESSANT...When I was pregnant with my 3rd and was having those early morning whoozy spells whilst pouring the Rice Krispies (you know!?)...well, I could have brained them as they chuntered continuously, even when Mummy was at the point of fainting, i.e with head between her legs on floor!'What are yoooou doooing Mummy!!!!!!For the love of God!! They are little Angels really but the bloody talking and volume is a little hard to take sometimes I agree.

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