XP: Question about socializing and imitating peers

nictel

 

OK - So I am a big worrier....     I know and I'm working on it. 

My son is turning 3 and has a speech delay.  He started speaking about  5 -6 months ago, and is doing great!  Tested out of EI, and will get speech for articulation through CPSE in the fall.  He's really starting to interact with his peers, so that one on one playdates are now about 75% of interactive play with a a peer and 25% paralell play.  This cooperative / interactive play really got underway about 2 months or so ago.  Here's the "but".....But, a lot of it is him imitating the other kid or kids.  They sit down, he sits down.  They start throwing rocks, he starts throwing rocks.  He is even repeating their speech immediately after them.  They'll yell "come on!" and he'll yell "come on!" right after them....etc etc....  He's very good about coming up to me and telling me what his friends are doing.  For example, "Emily's swimming in the water", and then answering "yes I want to swim with emily" when asked if he wants to join in.  But, he's not good at phrases like "Emily come play with me" or "let's play in the sand instead"  He just follows and imitates his peers.

When he first started to learn to speak he did a lot of repeating of our speech.  Now the vast majority of his speech is original; he mostly repeats it if it's a new word or phrase he's trying to learn or if he doesn't understand or have an answer to an abstract question like "what did you dream about?"...  How normal is it for him to be immediately repeating the speech of his peers as he starts to learn to interact with them?  Do you think it will fade as it did with us once he starts to get more used to playing with peers?

We have also been told by mulitple clinicians that he is not ASD, just speech delayed.

So, how typical is this?  If it's not typical what should I do?  My SLP is not concerned.

Thanks!

Pesky

Sounds normal to me for a 2YO.  DS can't answer abstract questions either.  DS copies DD ALL.THE.TIME.  Just like you mentioned.  Everything she says.  What I do is tell him what he can say to get what he wants "you want H to come with you?  Say 'H, come with me please'".  He repeats that and gets what he wants.  So I would start doing that so he can learn the appropriate phrasing for requesting a type of play or interaction.  Your DS will likely grow out of it over time.  FWIW, DD sometimes still repeats things her peers say but more along the lines of "I get what you are saying and I agree!"

futrkingsley

DS is the same age and had a speech delay and received EI until he was 2.5.  He has a lot of same age peers (4 cousins within 9 months of his age, goes to preschool, has other similar aged friends of ours) that we see on a regular basis and I haven't encountered this issue before.  I'd ask more questions and watch to see what his peers are doing. 

Is his therapist suggesting that it's normal for his stage of development or for kids his age? 

franciscaz

Have you spoken with your Pedi?  Do you have a Family Services Coordinator who set up your speech therapy?  If so have you spoken with him.  I think it sounds typical BUT if you are concerned this might indicate something like a spectrum disorder you should get an evaluation to make sure.  Your FSC can set that up but if you don't speak with your pedi and he can refer you.

n&bcarlson

Honestly, at this age it sounds normal.  I really wouldn't be concerned unless it continues for quite a while and you don't start seeing an increase in other types of communication.  Sounds like he's just trying to figure out how to fit in.