[Trishy]

Ds is rapidly expanding his vocabulary. I was starting to worry that he would never talk and now he has turned into quite the chatterbox. I love it. I am very excited that he is learning new words, phrases and small sentences. The thing is that he wants me to repeat everything after he says it. It's driving me batty! Is this usual? Will it pass?

 

[Mallory]

It is very usual. He wants to be understood.

In the beginning he gooed and babbled and you talked back, he thought you were communicating, then somewhere around 15 months (maybe closer to 12 or 18) he realized you don't know what he is saying. This often is a very trying, frustrating, tantruming age. And now (I would guess he is right around 2) that you are starting to understand what he is saying it is so reaffirming and exciting to hear you repeat his thoughts!

I think this usually lasts for maybe 6 or 8 months after they really get understood, but even at 3 or 4 it can sure help just to repeat their exact words. Then as they get older (like 6 or 7 and even friends or husbands

) it still is important to repeat what a person is saying, if you really want them to feel understood. Just by this time repeating their exact words is not near as reaffirming as putting it into your own words to show you are really listening and understanding.

So no, I don't think that the desire for someone to repeat what we say ever goes away it just evolves.

 

[Trishy]

Ok now that I have a minute I wanted to come back and clarify a bit. It's not that I mind repeating him. The look on his face when I recognize something new that he says is priceless. But take the word tree for example. Ds loves trees and we live in the mountains. There are gabillions of trees. The conversation wheil driving down the road goes:

Ds: Tree!
Me: Tree.
Ds: Tree!
Me: Tree.
Ds: Tree!
Me: Tree.

I think you get the point. I love trees, I think they are wonderful. But I want to run away for the big city, lol. It's good to know that it will pass some day but some days I just get worn down by the repetition.

ETA: Christmas is coming so there will be tree inside everywhere too!

 

[oceanbaby]

If you move to the city, it will be "bus." My son isn't even talking yet, but we went through a stage that lasted a good 6 months (and still continues somewhat today), where he pointed to every single bus, and would keep pointing and squealing until I said "bus." If there were 3 buses, I had to say it 3 times. We live smack in the middle of a huge city, with hundreds of buses all over the place. When we all went on a walk I would tell dh that he was on bus patrol, because I just couldn't say it any more.

 

[EmmalinesMom]

Oh yeah... we are so with you. With us, the current favorite is to take out her two favorite shirts, one with Elmo, one with Zoey, and say, "Elmo or Zoey?"

Repeat 400 times.

But I totally agree...the look they give you when they realize you understand what they are saying is priceless!!

 

[Mallory]

Have You tried to expand the coversation? On top of wanting to be understood, I think these can also be poor attemps to make conversation.

Ds: Tree
You: Tree, those trees are tall. Look how the leaves are turning orange.

Does that make any difference?

 

[shelley4]

kaeden does this all the time! i think it's so he knows that i understood what he said.. he won't let me just say "yes" or "i understand".. i have to parrot back *exactly* what he said, or

so i just go with it.. it's so important for him to feel understood

 

[village idiot]

Oceanbaby, my dd has been doing this for awhile. She will squeal and point until we say dog or ball-her 2 favorite things.

Mallory, that's a great idea about expanding the conversation. I remember doing this with my now 12yo dd and do it sometimes with my 11 month old dd.

 

[PumpkinSeeds]

Oh. My. Goodness.

I thought I was the only one.

 

[mom2mygirls]

I was beginning to get worried about Kimberly also but this past month she has been saying alot of words and will repeat stuff it is great. she just turned 20 months. she loves me to read to her she brings me books all of the time it is just to cute.

Christina

 

[jazminflower]

glad to see our babies (toddlers) are happily thriving!!!!!

we have been on "ball" for about 4 months now

 

[famousmockngbrd]

Trishshack, I can picture your "tree" conversation all too well! :LOL

Cole does the same thing with lights - lamps, streetlights, etc. He doesn't talk yet but he points at stuff and wants you to say it's name. We are always saying "book", and "picture" (on the walls) and "light"! It's very funny to be lying in bed on the mornings my DH gets up with Cole and hear him saying "light" over and over again, hee hee. I have said everything I can possibly say about my dining room chandelier.

:

 

[Curious]

I find myself doing this a lot and I annoy myself! My ears can't believe my mouth is doing it again. I think, as others have said, it's a signal to Dd that she's been heard and understood. She knows her diction and ability to get points across isn't quite what she'd like. I think it's like those books that say when you are discussing some touchy subject with your spouse, to repeat what they've just said to you. This never worked for Dh and me, but it seems to be the thing for Dd.

But to prevent totally driving myself crazy, I play a game where I have to say a reply in a way that indicates I've understood, and then try to make the conversation more interactive. Tonight it was "Mrs. Jack-o-lantern is happy."

Instead of repeating, I asked "Why is Mrs. Jackolantern happy?"

Dd: "Mrs. Jackolantern looks good." This is a really fun way to get into Dd's head, and I love watching her ponder the answer to my questions. She tilts her head and goes hmmmm.

 

[campingmumma]

It's even better when 2 yo ds here copies everything 5 yo dd says - drives her crazy and then she starts beating on her brother.

Oh the joys

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