[reepicheep]

Hi,
My son will be 2 1/2 in sbout a week and he seems to be a typically developing little boy- he is very verbal and can speak in coherent multisentence phrases. There is only one issue that bothers me- he still calls himself 'you' instead of 'I.' He also calls the person he is adressing 'me' or 'I.'
In other words, he reverses his pronouns. He will refer to the two of us together as 'we' correctly. Anyway, when I looked this issue up on the internet (a dangerous game, I know) all I found were links about Autism and Asperger's. He doesn't fit most of the other criteria, although he does like to listen to the same music a lot. Anyway, I am starting to freak out and am wondering if anyone else had a child who did this and turned out fine?
Thanks,
Rachel

 

[August's Mama]

I have the exact situation. My son is 2 1/2 and speaks in sentences, very well I might add. But, still calls himself "you". EX: "Mommy hold you". It makes perfect sense to me, everyone always calls him you. I have heard of other toddlers doing the exact same thing. I think it's normal and nothing to worry about.
Kat

 

[reepicheep]

thank you! that is exactly what I needed to hear!

 

[katsam]

My son is 28 months and I don't think he even really uses pronouns yet. He does talk quite a bit though, and has lots of words, and puts them together in short sentences. I think their is still a wide range of normal at this age as far as speach goes, and the pronoun thing doesn't sound like anything to worry about quite yet.

 

[Destinye]

DD does this sometimes but less and less, I think its normal! She also still says Mummy Carry You and I think its because thats how she learned the phrase very early on. I think its normal and a very confusing part of language development!

 

[MotherWhimsey]

My dd is almost 2.5 and she has just figured this out. And I think the only reason that she has figured it out at all is cause she got so baffled by it when we tried to explain it, that she'll run over the whole "A. is me, daddy is you, A. is me, Mommy is you. somebody else is you." at least once a day. I think it still bakes her little brain a bit, but she's finally getting it down. I'd say your son is totally normal.

 

[NannyL]

Totally normal. The correct use of pronouns is one of the hardest things to learn.

 

[octobermom]

Actually if hes using pronous at all hes doing pretty well. Mines 3.5 shes delayed but shes also just NOW starting to use pronouns she mostly says. thats for Cecilia (her name ) or Cecilia's turn. Its not at all uncommon for toddlers to totally avoid or reverse pronouns.
Deanna

 

[little dear]

I know how it is to worry...
My 2 1/2 ds now says "mama carry you me"
I agree w previous posts very very normal to have different language levels at different ages, and pronouns are a bit tricky when papa says "do you want me to carry you?"
My husband and I do a lot of "remember when Miles used to say...."
It is hard not to worry when you're a mama, isn't it? I'm really trying to work on this one.

 

[TortelliniMama]

I used to teach kids with autism, and I'd have to say that there are a *lot* of things that toddlers do that are characteristic of autism. But those things are developmentally appropriate for toddlers. For instance, toddlers often use echolalia (repeating phrases/sentences, either immediately after hearing them or after some period of time). They also tend to want things done the same way, over and over (and over and over...

) again. These are traits seen in people with autism, but they're also common developmental stages in typically developing children. It's similar to the way that we're born with certain reflexes that are totally normal for newborns, but those reflexes go away after a while. If that change doesn't happen, then that can signify a problem, but having the reflex (or these traits) in the first place isn't something you need to worry about.

 

[JBaxter]

My oldest called himself "boy" at that age. It was only a phase. After thinking about it I knew I used the pharases "little boy" and "mommy's boy" alot

 

[reepicheep]

Thank you all so much! I have slept on this and am feeling much better about it. It is awful to worry and I should just stay away from the internet on these issues! My husband actually started trying to teach my son the correct pronoun usage (which I'm not sure is necessary but...) and F. did start to grasp it a bit, so I feel relieved. I also thought a lot about what it would mean to me if he did have a delay, and I realized it wouldn't change a thing! He would be the same wonderful little boy and I would love him exactly the same. Thank you all for your support, I haven't been on this site for a while (no time!) but I am so grateful it exists.