DS won’t talk at nursery

[SalviaOfficinalis]

My DS is 21 months and has been going to nursery since September, 2 days a week.

At home he is very chatty, constantly talking. At nursery he doesn’t speak.

He seems to like going to nursery, he’s happy when he goes and at pick up, and smiles when we talk about nursery at home.

Nursery weren’t concerned when we had parents evening a little while ago, but of course they don’t know how much he talks at home. They said he is quite reserved and will wait to be encouraged before joining in activities.

Anyone had similar? Is it common for toddlers to not speak much at nursery?

I’m an early years practitioner and find this quite common. Usually once they have settled in and got used to their new environment and feel more confident they start talking .At present we have a 4 year old who doesn’t speak yet parents say he is chatty and talks a lot at home, he just doesn’t speak to any practitioner or child at nursery no matter the encouragement, we’ve tried.

My oldest DS was the same. We had a little chat and I asked him why he didn’t speak. He said ‘they not know me mummy’ and I said that they did know him and liked him very much. And we had a chat about it. Then he talked at nursery like his did at home.
So maybe ask him?

My child was exactly the same for years, even when they started school. They did lots of extra curricular activities and even though they loved them, still wouldn't say a word when they were there unless they were forced to.
Eventually they grew out of it and now their teacher is complaining they talk too much in class and they're known as one of the jokers in their activities. Although they're still pretty silent in one class they go to. I wouldn't worry too much about it. We realised our child was always going to be reserved. They're a listener and a watcher and they come alive around people they're comfortable with.

Yes, my DD (20m) is a very confident speaker at home and is quite the chatterbox. Nursery said that she didn't talk too much until a month or two ago where they said she had started to speak quite a lot. They said it's quite common for toddlers to talk more at home to begin with.

My DS is the same. He's nearly 3.5 now and gradually speaking more at nursery. They've never been that concerned because they hear him chatting to my and DH at pick up/drop off and it's always been a matter of confidence for him. We agreed with nursery that we'd put absolutely no pressure on him and it seems to be improving of its own accord. He's always loved nursery though so I've never worried about it much.

My dd had been at nursery 3 months before her keyworker rang me at work to excitedly tell me that she had said 'juice please' - apparently it was the first thing she'd said! She was 2.5 and spoke in sentences at home.

This is all very reassuring, thank you!

This was my DS too. He was so silent at nursery. Started school and loved the structure and spoke happily.

I’ve just had an update on the nursery app to say DS has looked at a book with his key worker and said a few words!
He must have known I was talking about him on mn 😅