Painfully shy

DC is so verbal at home, speaks in full sentences, knows her ABCs, colors, numbers can recognize some words, but in her preschool class, the teachers tell me she is non-verbal and only grunts when she is asked questions. She understands, they say, but doesn't communicate well. She is only 2.5yo, but I am worried. I figured it would take her some time to warm up to her teachers, but 3 months later, still so shy? Anybody else have any similar experiences with their children?

Re: Painfully shy

nobody? that makes me even more worried!

Re: Painfully shy

You are not alone. My DS just turned 3 and he is the exact same way. His verbal/language skills amaze me. He talks all day long and knows so many things (can count to 100, identify the 1st letter of a word, etc). He's playful and so much fun. But, in school he is a completely different child. He rarely ever speaks in school. If the teacher asks him a question, he does not answer. He's very shy with other children also. It pains me to see him this way. He's always been shy and I was a shy kid but he's much more shy than I was. I don't know what to do about it. I'm sort of waiting a little, waiting for him to mature a little more before I do something, what I don't know. He's definitely better though - I notice the small changes, see the growth.

Re: Painfully shy

If she speaks just fine at home and is completely nonverbal at school it might be selective mutism. I have worked with a few children that had that diagnosis. Right now there are 3 students at my school that i know of with selective mutism. 2 of them (the younger ones) receive speech and social skills counseling. You might want to talk to you pediatrician about it. From what my speech therapist coworker says it stems fro anxiety and its best not to call attention to it or say "oh she's shy" to someone looking for a response from her. There are also strategies you can use to get her to practice talking ang getting comfortable speaking. A speech therapist or psych would probably be able to help you ore than I could. It's also important to remember and to stress to others that your DD isnt being oppositional or defiant by not speaking.