Normal behavior or something is off ?

please don't quote

I'm starting to worry if my dd behaviors are all normal. She is 26 months old. She is our oldest child. I know I shouldn't compare but compared to other children in her age group I feel like either she is immature compared to them or some of her behaviors are off.

She talks fairly well. She has hundreds of words, can repeat whatever we say, speaks in 4-5 word sentences, sings her abc's and counts to 20. She sings lots of songs and knows all the words.

The things I worry about are

She doesn't play with other children all that much. She will run along with them or dance with them but its never directly. She doesn't pretend with them even when they ask her to play. She is perfectly happy playing with a toy on her own.

She has barely acknowledged her baby sister. DD2 is almost 5 months old and my dd barely notices her. Once in a blue moon she says "Hi Aubrey or Aww baby" but that is about it. If we put the baby near her she gets up and moves away. My youngest dd squeals when she sees my oldest dd and my older dd never reacts. SHe doesn't really act jealous she just acts as if my younger dd doesn't even exist.

She constantly puts things in her mouth. Its sort of an obsession. She puts every toy in her mouth, and her blankie. If she doesn't have something to hold than she puts her hands in her mouth. This is all day every day. I constatntly have to say "emily take the toy out of your mouth".

Her small motor coordination seems to be off. She will not use utensils despite us giving them to her at every meal, showing her how to use them. She can scribble but has little to no interest in holding a crayon.

What worries me the most is that I feel like she is in a fantasy world. She loves Dora. She wakes up talking about Dora. Often times on the monitor I hear her first words of the day are "swiper where are you"? She asks me to take her to Dora school. We have limited her tv time to 1 hour a day and some days no tv at all. We also have stopped allowing her to watch Dora all together which breaks her little heart. When she plays and pretends with toys its usually Dora related. She sings songs from Dora. SHe constantly repeats phrases from Dora. Answers questions with responses from the show. She is even tell us she is Dora. I feel bad because I feel like we encouraged her obsession with Dora. DH and I always sang the songs to her. DH would pretend he was swipper and hide toys and than they would go and look for it.

Is this abnormal for her age? My mom thinks I'm reading into this too much. She says I'm comparing her to other kids too much and my dd is just immature compared to the other girls I know who are her age. My dh and my mom think my dd behavior is normal in relation to how she reacts to our youngest dd. I'm not sure what to think.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

Honestly, she sounds totally normal to me. 100% normal.

First, kids don't interact and actually play with each other for a few years. Early on its called "parallel play" meaning they will play alongside each other, even doing the same thing sometimes, but not actually interacting during the playtime. Totally normal.

I also think a new baby is an adjustment and she probably just needs time to get use to this new little person and all the changes in the house. Again, normal. I think at her age a baby just isn't something all that interesting to her. As the baby can do more and as your DD gets older she will appreciate the baby more and show more of an interest.

As far as everything else, putting things in her mouth is still normal for her age. Some kids are just very orally fixated, she will likely outgrow it. Using utensils and holding a crayon properly is also a skill that for some kids just takes longer to master. Lastly, it's totally normal for a child her age to be VERY obsessed with a particular character or show. At that age my DD was beyond obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she repeated EVERYTHING from the show, wanted Minnie everything, sang the songs, watched it constantly. It's normal. Eventually, she outgrew it but then of course she found the next thing to fall in love with. Kids always latch onto toys, shows, games, etc. Like everything it's usually a phase.

I think she sounds like a normal little 26 month old girl and I wouldn't be too worried. If it eases your mind you can always talk to your ped but I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. She sounds like a toddler!!!!

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

From what you described, she seems totally typical. I am a pediatric OT and a mother of a 2 1/2 year old girl and everything you wrote describes my DD. Socially there is a pretty wide range at this age. Parallel play is the norm, cooperative play comes in about 3 years old. Fine motor wise utensil use is difficult and can be frustrating to a hungry toddler. My DD can use utensils somewhat successfully, but still prefers using her hands. Many toddlers still mouth objects at this age---thats why so many toys have 3 and up on their package. My DD doesn't watch Dora, but she LOVES anything Princess. I bought her Cinderella when it came out and she would watch it twice a day if I let her. She also pretends to cinderella and talks about the movie a ton.

Keep working on utensil use, social interactions with peers, replace objects that don't belong in her mouth with something that does or ask her to use the object as it was intended ("why don't you use the hair brush to brush your dolls hair?") and try and vary her tv shows so she doesn't get so stuck on one thing. Are their any other fine motor skills that your are concerned about? She should be scribbleing with crayons
(use broken ones, about 1 inch in length to promote a proper grasp). Magnadoodles, play doh, simple 6 to 12 piece jigsaw puzzles (with some assistance), putting stickers on paper, pushing pom poms into a hole in a plastic container are great fine motor activities.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

She sounds very similar to my DD who is 2 1/2.
1. DD has friends who she plays with, but often they will parallel play, not really acknowledging eachother. One time at a party she played under a tree the whole time and was content!

2. Some kids like babies, some don't. I do not have another DC yet so I cannot relate to this. My dd loves babies no matter who they are...

3. She still puts thing in her mouth. Only uses a spoon for yogurt, and can only scribble with a crayon.

4. DD is OBSESSED OBSESSED with everything princess. She calls my DH the Prince and she is the princess...it is constant. She does the same thing as your DD, talks about them all the time, it is crazy. She has a wild imagination, and I actually think it's healthy!

I think your DD is normal, but if you have concerns ask you pediatrician.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

It all sounds completely normal.

At that age my DC was OBSESSED with Disney/Pixar Cars, watched it over and over and over and over, had all the toys, and was the only thing DC played.

Parallel play is totally normal too as is still mastering utensils.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

She sounds totally normal to me as well. I think that your expectations may be too high. Children are not expected to play with one another at this age.

However, if you really feel something is off I would talk to your pediatrician about it.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

Posted by Hofstra26

Honestly, she sounds totally normal to me. 100% normal.

First, kids don't interact and actually play with each other for a few years. Early on its called "parallel play" meaning they will play alongside each other, even doing the same thing sometimes, but not actually interacting during the playtime. Totally normal.

I also think a new baby is an adjustment and she probably just needs time to get use to this new little person and all the changes in the house. Again, normal. I think at her age a baby just isn't something all that interesting to her. As the baby can do more and as your DD gets older she will appreciate the baby more and show more of an interest.

As far as everything else, putting things in her mouth is still normal for her age. Some kids are just very orally fixated, she will likely outgrow it. Using utensils and holding a crayon properly is also a skill that for some kids just takes longer to master. Lastly, it's totally normal for a child her age to be VERY obsessed with a particular character or show. At that age my DD was beyond obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she repeated EVERYTHING from the show, wanted Minnie everything, sang the songs, watched it constantly. It's normal. Eventually, she outgrew it but then of course she found the next thing to fall in love with. Kids always latch onto toys, shows, games, etc. Like everything it's usually a phase.

I think she sounds like a normal little 26 month old girl and I wouldn't be too worried. If it eases your mind you can always talk to your ped but I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. She sounds like a toddler!!!!

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

I agree, this sounds very normal to me. My DS was similar at that age and he is totally fine as far as we can tell!

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

Posted by Hofstra26

Honestly, she sounds totally normal to me. 100% normal.

First, kids don't interact and actually play with each other for a few years. Early on its called "parallel play" meaning they will play alongside each other, even doing the same thing sometimes, but not actually interacting during the playtime. Totally normal.

I also think a new baby is an adjustment and she probably just needs time to get use to this new little person and all the changes in the house. Again, normal. I think at her age a baby just isn't something all that interesting to her. As the baby can do more and as your DD gets older she will appreciate the baby more and show more of an interest.

As far as everything else, putting things in her mouth is still normal for her age. Some kids are just very orally fixated, she will likely outgrow it. Using utensils and holding a crayon properly is also a skill that for some kids just takes longer to master. Lastly, it's totally normal for a child her age to be VERY obsessed with a particular character or show. At that age my DD was beyond obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she repeated EVERYTHING from the show, wanted Minnie everything, sang the songs, watched it constantly. It's normal. Eventually, she outgrew it but then of course she found the next thing to fall in love with. Kids always latch onto toys, shows, games, etc. Like everything it's usually a phase.

I think she sounds like a normal little 26 month old girl and I wouldn't be too worried. If it eases your mind you can always talk to your ped but I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. She sounds like a toddler!!!!

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

Truthfully she is probably very bright.. Children that like fantasy etc talk to invisible friends are what I read more creative and intelligent :)

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

it actually all sounds normal.

I cant speak for the reaction to baby # 2 b/c DS is an only child, but for a while he would only play side by side with kids. From what i read its called Parallel play. like they are next to each other but dont really interact. Jack is very happy playing on his own. He's 3 now and is much better with playing with others. I noticed it this summer at the playground...interacting a lot more.

Stuff in mouth..NORMAL..
Not using utensils..NORMAL. Jack varies..most times he eats with a fork/spoon and other times his hands. But I always try to reinforce using the utensil.

all summer jack was obsessed with POCOYO. He would ask for it all the time. He would say things like "POCOYO does that..or Pato does this.." Then it was blues clues and wanting Steve all the time. Today its Wubzy..lol.

THe only thing I would suggest is maybe working on the crayons/drawing with her. at one of our well visist the dr. checked that and asked him to draw a line so she can see how he holds the crayon. But he loves to draw and write.

otherwise, sounds like typical 2 yr old behavior.

and just from what MIL tells me when they adopted DD, my DH wanted nothing to do with her when they brought her home. He was 4 when they adopted. So I would just give it time where the new baby is concerned.

Re: Normal behavior or something is off ?

DD is 25 months and two of the things describe her to a T.

She doesn't play with other kids.. at social events she prefers to hang out with dogs or adults

She has a HUGE oral fixation and puts things in her mouth like an infant would. She's a thumb sucker so I think it might be rooted in that but it's defintiely gross and something I wish she'd grow out of.