Is it normal for my 2.7 year old dd not to know the names of any other kids at nursery?

[toodamnfreaky]

My dd started nursery 2 mornings a week 4 weeks ago - she's an only child but very friendly and often makes friends with other kids in the park,plays chase etc. I think it's weird that she doesn't know the names of other kids in her nursery class as she can remember kids she met once, in the park, weeks afterwards. I am worried the nursery isn't helping/encouraging her to make friends (I though socialisation was the whole point of nursey at this age). I'm aware that she doesn't fight her corner very well when other kids snatch things off her and I'm worried that she might be getting dominated by other kids more used to nurseries. What does everyone you reckon?

my dd2 has only just (about the last 6 months) started mentioning the other kids in her nursery by name, and she's 4. so I wouldn't worry too much, I know it's easier said than done, but I don't think it's especially unusual

completely normal imo. they're still playing alongside each other at this age - I don't think they have 'friends' yet unless they are children they have known and seen regularly since babyhood. I would think she's almost more likely to remember a child she met in one, stand-out event than one she sees around the nursery iyswim.

I agree with flowerpot. It's perfectly normal, and you've nothing to worry about

Okay, I'm reassured. Thanks!

dd was there for 3 months before she started telling us the names of other kids so i wouldn't panic

My best friend of 30 years couldn't remember my name for about a fortnight when we first met at school and we were 7!!

Ds only started to regularly mention names when he was three, after a year and a half at nursery!

You think they don't know any names but then you pass some random child in Tesco and your dc shouts their name out. It's not long til you realise your child is far more popular than you are!

My DD is just 3 and has talked about the children by name for ages now. But I am sure that some of the other children don't. Oh and DD has been there 3 full days a week since she was a baby.

Don't worry about it.

Also don't worry if when she does mention them she mentions them as a first name and surname all rolled into one eg. joshuasmith . If there are several children with the same first name they tend to get called by their first name and surname by nursery staff who need to get their attention "Joshua Smith can you sit down please".

It was ages before DD realised that some childrens names were not what she thought !

lol ProfYaffle, we were at soft play on tuesday and dd announced that the boy she was playing with was Tony from playschool (had never seen him there before but yep... he was there yesterday!)

Does she really not know their names? I'm only wondering cos even now if you ask my DD (3.2) who was at nursery today, she will clam up, or say 'Fophie!' (Sophie) only. But on the way in and out of nursery, she points out all the other kids' parents by name (kids' names, not parents').

She's been doing this for a while - and I did gather from developmental checks in books and whatnot that she was quite early to know other kids' names (even if she didn't want to share them with me) so 2.7 doesn't seem late NOT to know other kids' names.

yes think that is normal, only when my dd turned 4 did she start mentioning specific friends

BettyS I thought DD was calling one little boy 'Tiger' for ages, which I thought was a bit fruity for a 2yo, until I realised he was constantly referred to buy his first and surnames (not the only one with his first name) and she'd picked up on his surname (Tighe) instead of first name.

PT - Yes, we've had that at soft play too!

Hi Dontcallmebaby. She really doesn't know, I'm absolutely sure she doesn't. I think it's weird because she has a memory like an elephant and can recite whole books back to me, as well as rhymes and songs...

Ah well, like I say, I got the impression from books and stuff that over three is more 'normal' for knowing people's names. Besides, perfectly normal, nay fabulous people grow up quite unable to remember anyone's name for more than five minutes (ahem, this is why I'm so glad DD knows who the parents are, I can never remember).