I am really not bragging, just truly interested if this is typical....

[VodkaAndTonic]

My DD1 (aged 3.5) seems to me to have an exceptional skill when it comes to telling imaginary stories. I am really not brafgging or trying to brag by stealth, but genuinely interested if other DC do this and it's completely normal or if she is unusual:

When driving, she will ask me to tell her a story, which I do, usually a re-telling of Cinderella or Snow White, which can last 5 - 20 mins depending on length of journey.

but now, she has started to say, "I will tell you a story!" and we then get something like this:

"Once upon a time, there was a horse, called Kicky Horse and he lived in a field. So. One day, his mummy came to him and fed him. Anyway. Then. Another day, Kicky Horse came bak to his field and saw his little sister horse. Called Kicky Kicky Horse. So, Kicky Horse suggested that they go to the market."

Anyway, you get the picture! She uses so, anyway, suddenly, eventually. The stories always make sense, and the characters remain consistent in terms of names and place throughout.

These stories can last 20 minutes and always finish with "... and they lived happily ever after and that, Mummy, is the end of the story."

It seems unusual to me, but what do I know?

Sorry, but this has been pretty normal for both my dds at this age (although maybe my dd's are also exceptional - will have to wait till more posters turn up to burst our bubble!)

I think it is quite special actually

she has a great command of language and can develop a train of thought independently and understand how a story is constructed

I have a 7yo with Aspergers who is exceptional (passed Y6 SATS in Y1 with no effort whatsoever - can't put his bloody shoes on the right feet though) and he was storytelling at a similar level when he was 3

The typical MN reaction to this sort of post will be "Bof, all our kids did that", whether it's true or not

MN is very British

Well my DS1 is that age and would never come out with stories like that.

But I know a very bright little girl who probably would.

I would say it's fairly uncommon, but not freakishly unusual, IYSWIM.

She sounds adorable

I think it's pretty special as well.

I don't think I can tell much of a story off the top of my head tbh.

Certainly none of my DC have ever done this. It shows good command of language and story telling.

When you hear children in reception trying to tell a story from the wordless ORT books (which I think are really good actually) lots of them find it almost impossible, and even with lots of prompts will only give one-word answers.

Ds does similar (and I was very proud) but not lengthy like thaT. When he plays with his toys it's amazing ([blush)] , he pretends two of his cars are brothers, and they fight, and then have to say sorry and it's quite complex and it's gripping stuff!

Clever girl. She's got it from you I expect with your re-telling of fairy tales.

I think you can allow yourself a proud-parent moment

thesecondcoming, yours is a very funny post.

I don't think it's 'Genius Child' stuff, but she is obviously a very bright, imaginative little girl. How wonderful to have her tell you stories! Wish I could get my DS to do this on long car journeys

Ok, all v interesting. So I am chalking it up to "uncommon but not exceptional"....
It is lovely to hear and like thesecondcoming, I have to pay attention because she grills me at the end ("which was your favourite bit of the story?" and "did you like the bit about the giraffe?")and I have to answer cogently or woe betide .

DD does similar but not usually off the top of her head eg she will see a horse and make up a story about a horse but wouldn't just come up with a story about a horse without having seen one. She loves looking at her books and telling a story based on the pictures too.

She is 3.11

Enjoy them! Ds (3y4m) does this but his arent quite so nice...the last one went a bit like this...

'Once upon a time there was a king who lived in a castle with some knights but some pirates came and tied him up and no-one resued him ever and then a monster came an blasted him into space and he was stuck and ......on and on and on.....the end bit being and no-one ever rescued him EVER mummy, ever, ever, ever, EVER'

wow that sounds great, My dd who is 3 makes up tales about what shes done today but doesnt make up stories tho i was impressed when she told me the bear story 'peace at last' virtually word for word knowing exactly what to say before turning each page!

dunno if its normal or not.... my ds (just 3) 2nd favourite game (1st fav is bashing ) is one day which is basicaly a story acted out with cuddly toys..... so ....one day doggie went to the woods, blah blah.... usualy invovles rescuing someone from dragons, having a pic-nic, looking for mummy etc etc AND he gives them different voices. So for me it's normal. (he still can't count past 4 though- not that I give a fig but just to illustrate he's not "advanced in any way)

Sounds lovely.

My 'Baby Development Guide' puts telling stories and tall tales at this age as showing potential for G&T

I got very excited as DS was doing this - telling complex stories as clear as a bell by age 3. However, it hasn't amounted to much so far as he's behind at school with most things and is described by his teacher as 'very quiet'

TSC i imagine you being quite verbal in person too!

well, sounds v. clever to me OP, mine isn't even saying 'Mummy' yet...(at nearly 3)

DD used to do similar things (though perhaps not quite so young). She still has an incredible imagination and can tell stories that I wish I could write down, illustrate and publish!

Your DD wounds very sweet!

all children will excel at different things, my dd age 3 can count to 20 and say most of the alphabet but cant pedal her trike tho in fairness she cant only just reach the pedals and it has been in the shed since last summer but theres lots of stuff shes brilliant at and loads thats taking her longer to grasp, like using the toilet grrrr!

hmm well ds1 did/does this too

no idea if that means it is normal, or if it means he is special though! lol

Wow this is not usual imo at that age, a lot of 3 year olds i know dont, they are just learning to string simple sentances together and basic understanding of the world. My 3.2 year old dd would never in a million years come out with stuff like that, its really special indeed.