18 month old doesn't like song/story time

[newmamalizzy]

Wow, second post of the day!  I'm clearly feeling anxious today, so maybe I just need some reassurance on this one: 

I've been taking my 18 month old to song/story time at the library for quite some time now.  One of the first things she ever said was "Tick-tock, tick-tock", after one of the songs we do.  Clearly she pays attention, and sometimes I get some smiles out of her while we're at the group, but usually she either just sits in silence in my lap or asks to leave.  This has gotten worse over time, not better, as I thought it would.  I suspect that she just gets intimidated by the large group of people.  She's always been easily overstimulated.  Today, I got this new idea that's probably nothing, but I'm worried about it nonetheless.  I have a plugged up ear right now, and I've noticed that one-on-one interactions feel pretty normal, but being in a room full of people and sound is almost unbearable.  Some sounds are too loud, background noise is like a loud buzz, and it's really REALLY hard to focus on what's going on.  Song time was AWFUL for me, and I couldn't help but wonder....What if Bea experiences group situations this way? What if her hearing is the problem, rather than the group?  Is this a crazy idea?  (Feel free to say yes!)

[HappyMonkey]

There are pretty simple hearing tests you can have done.. maybe for peace of mind you should look into it?

[McGucks]

Hi!  Caeden, who usually is very outgoing, pretty much clings to me at storytime and that kind of thing.  I have noticed a wide range of children's engagements in the activities we do.  Oftentimes, I've noticed the girls are likely to sit and follow along, while the boys are more energetic, curious, and explorative.

Children, like adults, have different personalities (I know you know that, I'm not trying to talk down to you!).  Some love groups, and some love more intimate interactions.

I know you are not saying that you are worried Bea is shy, but just in case...DS1 (age 16) was painfully shy when he was a little one.  He is now more outgoing than I would prefer, to be honest.  Don't know where he got it since his dad and I were both pretty backwards, socially.

I don't think you need to worry, but I understand why you are checking!

[nia82]

Apart from hearing tests, you know my DS hears fine but he has never enjoyed singing classes or story time. It bores him out of his mind. He rather plays and runs around then sitting in a circle with a bunch of strangers. Is your DD more the run-around-type than sitting still and paying attention maybe?

[transylvania_mom]

Take her for a hearing test for your peace of mind!

But not staying still at story time is pretty common for a toddler, I wouldn't worry about it.

[crunchy_mommy]

Well I suppose her hearing could be the issue but I'd think you would have noticed other signs of a hearing problem. More likely it's a personality thing or she's just overwhelmed by the other kids or something.

We've gone to lots of different story times so I've seen a lot of different kids and how they react. I'd say 90% of the 1-2 year olds pay little attention and would prefer to just run around or whatever... 5% get really into it & do all the songs but don't have the attention span/can't stay quiet for the books, and the other 5% just sit silently in their parents' laps. The 2.5-4yo's tend to start paying a little more attention & participating more but still lots of running around and talking. Depends on who's leading the story time too, some maintain a better atmosphere than others.

My DS is 2.5 and definitely in the "sit quietly on my lap" category. He has sensory & social/adaptive issues so I think that's part of it, but these issues are very much evident to me in other settings as well and he is in EI for them. But despite his lack of participation, he loves story time, loves listening to the books (often is the only kid still sitting & listening by the end of the story hour!) and sings the songs when we get home. He also loves the crafts. He just has trouble with the chaos of other kids running around, and he's got selective mutism or something so he can't manage to sing along/respond but will sometimes do the hand motions.

[LynnS6]

Two books that might help you:
1. The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron (I've got 2!)
2. The Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz (it describes sensory processing disorder, one version of which is hypersensitivity. I've got one of those!)

In other words, one of my highly sensitive children also has SPD. The other does not. I don't think you can tell at 18 months unless the sensory issues are really major. My suspicion is that it's just that she's sensitive. We didn't have ds assessed until he was 5, because before then, it wasn't interfering with his life. But when he hadn't outgrown the issues by age 5, and they were stopping him from doing things he wanted, we got an occupational therapist to evaluate him. He turned out to be: hypersensitive to touch, sound, smell, and vestibular movement. He also had horrible motor planning (which I hadn't noticed). OT helped tremendously. And he's doing great at 10.

DD, meanwhile, is just plain sensitive. She doesn't like loud noises. She's easily startled. She's got a killer sense of smell. She's hypersensitive to pain. She's emotionally hypersensitive too. For a long time, she wouldn't listen any story where there was danger. Now that she's writing her own stories, she told me firmly (after I'd said, you have great settings to your stories, but nothing happens), "I don't WANT problems in my stories!"

Anyway, start with the highly sensitive child. If her issues get worse, then you can read up on SPD.

[Peaceful Parent]

Some kids sit and soak it all in and some get into the action. I wouldn't get too concerned about that. Kids will all vary on that kind of stuff and it's normal. As for the hypersensitivity it's hard to say without more info but like the last poster said, she may be SPD or just highly sensitive. My little guy is SPD but has outgrown a lot of it with OT and learning to regulate himself. I always knew that my little guy was different than other kids and will always be quirky. If this is your only concern I would bet it's more personality. :)