I got on here today to ask advice about my "two year old woes," and hopefully it's not too silly of an issue.
My daughter is 27 months, and she wants us to reapeat EVERYTHING she says. If she says something and we don't respond, she says it over and over until we actually repeat the word back. I know it sounds silly and not that big of a deal, but as a SAHM of her and an 8 month old, it gets pretty exhausting to have to repeat back to her everything she says!! If we don't do it, she whines and says the word over and over until we do. This happens while we're playing, at the store, when I'm on the phone, during meals....ALL DAY.
I feel bad, because I don't know if this is just how she is learning or if I should just find a way to nip it in the bud. I was a teacher for 5 years before I stayed at home, and I still don't know how to handle this one.
So I thought I would just see if anyone had any good suggestions. She really already is a pretty good talker, and can get us to understand most of the things she is trying to communicate.
Thanks!
L.
My daughter is 27mo and does the exact same thing! Sometimes I will repeat the word, but other times I'll ask a question concerning the word and get her talking about another topic, lol.
She is at an age of language development. She might want you to repeat her so she can compare her words to yours. I have three children. Two of them spoke earlier and more clearly than most. The middle child had ear issues that were eventually cleared up but caused speech delays. I struggled to understand her speech (at 2 years 8 months she scored in the 6th percentile for speech) and would repeat back what I could understand of what she said. The speech pathologist said that modeling speech like that is one of the best ways to help her. Your child probably has a natural curiosity and a drive to "do it right." This annoying phase will pass (but hopefully not the curiosity). When you are at your wits end, try making a game out of it. Be playful and do things like when she says "lets go outside" you say "did you say smets bo moutside." I sometimes do this with my three year old and she thinks its hysterical. She says "no mommy" then tries to teach me. This skill can also help later on with word play and rhyming. (I also taught school before I had children) Hang in there!
Maybe I'm mean, LOL...But I would do it in an irritating way so that she doesn't want you to do it anymore! haha
Like say it a thousand times until she begs you to quit.
Shouldn't take too long 'til she stops : )
For any undesired behavior, make it consistently couter-productive for them. They will learn not to do it.
Blessings with your little one : )
--H.
Maybe it's her way of getting you to pay attention to her? Even negative attention is a positive to a child, like they say. Maybe instead of nipping it in the bud, take preventive action. Give her extra love and attention, all positive, when she's not doing it. Even if she has stopped doing it for just 5 minutes. Zoom in on her then. She might have found that this is a way to get her time with you.
Good luck!
L.
Sorry I don't have any advice about this... but I just want to say my 2 year old does the EXACT same thing and I can't wait to see any responses you get about this!!
Sounds kind of like a power struggle to me. Good luck winning
My little boy was a very early talker!! Able to speak in paragraphs and even be a smarty pants by 18 months!! We just never allowed whining! Anytime, he whined at all, we just wouldn't honor his request until he asked it without whining. As for the repeating, maybe you should try turning it around on her. Either have her repeat what you say over and over or repeat the first thing she says over and over until it gets on her nerves!! Of course, at that age, sometimes there are just things that seemingly have to be weathered no matter what you do. Mine's been in the question stage for about three years now, does that ever end. Best of luck.
Have a fabulous day and god bless!!
As the mother of a 3 1/2 year old let me just say, it gets worse. With mine, we'll be having a conversation and she'll make what I would consider a rhetorical comment that she'll keep repeating until I respond "I heard you all ten times" she'll tell me "well you didn't talk!" I thought our conversation was over. I know that it's their way of learning to communicate but it can be exasperating sometimes. Have patience with yours and I'll try to have patience with mine. Sometimes I'd just like a little quiet time though.
I understand what you're going through. My oldest son just turned 3 and I have a 3 month old. He does the exact same thing and has for a while now. It's slowly getting better. I just repeat it back and also say yes, I understand. Sometimes if I'm getting really annoyed, I'll try to say it back in a wierd voice so that maybe he'll start laughing and then I'll get my mind off how bothersome it was and we can then hopefully start laughing about something else. It doesn't always work. But laughing when you feel like screaming is much better! Hang in there!
Hey L., this may have become a habit from when she was younger....if you think about it we repeat the same word over and over (Momma/Daddy/eat/etc) trying to get our children to say words...then when they do we reward them with clapping or cheering, etc. sounds to me like she's looking for that approval of what she thinks are accomplishments. You might try telling her, "Momma heard you honey" or something of that nature....and of course praise her for her accomplishments as a 2 year old...just a thought....good luck...R>
I can't read all the responses right now so hope I'm not repeating :)... My 3.5 year old has done it for FOREVER!!! What I've noticed is this: if I respond ("that's right, it is a _____." or "Is that right?") he stops saying it. To me, it is like they are wanting conversation and telling you about something is the only way they know to do it. I try to remember that he is a person, too, and want to treat him with a respect that I want from him - listening to what he has to say and responding. How many times do we tell them to do something and they don't the first time?! We say "are you listening to me??? then answer me!!!" I've kind of started seeing it that way and it has helped A LOT! I hope you don't think I'm belittling your frustration because believe me, it has driven me crazy in the past! I hope this helps you...
K.
I have a 2 yr old and I am going through the same thing, I will repeat what she says a couple times and then I tell her Olivia this is the last time and I make it the last time, I wont give into her. good luck!
I guess my almost 3 year old is doing the same thing. I never thought she was trying to just get me to repeat what she was saying, but she does repeat things a LOT! Tho it seems like most of the time she repeats things even if I acknowledge what she has said!! For example, she may say "I want to watch Shrek!" And I may reply with "Ok, I'm coming" or "just a minute" etc. Well she will repeat her statement anyways!! Even while I'm in the process of starting the movie!! Hopefully they will grow out of this!
Yup...mine is doing that too, so did the older @ age 2ish..I was hoping for advice, but you got a lot of ppl that don't know either...it drives me nuts "Yes, that is a tree" "Yes, I saw the bird" AAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Good luck
~K.
I would guess she is wanting your attention with the new baby. Tell her you won't repeat what she says. Be sure you and her are alone when you talk to her, maybe when the baby is asleep. Explain you will put her in her room when she begins repeating things. Stick with it. Give her a lot of individual attention when she is showing the behavior you want and ignore when she is misbehaving. You might try to spend some intentional one on one time with her frequently without the baby around. She is probably feeling left out. Hang in there, the twoes don't last forever.
