do you have to repeat everything your toddler says?

somethingchangd · February 2011

Oliver's speech has reeeeeeally taken off lately and while I love communicating with him, the house is A LOT noisier all of a sudden. Partially because he requires that I repeat/fully acknowledge every single word he says. If I don't respond to his "Ollie feed baby" or "Ollie pet Lainey" or whatever, he repeats it incessantly until I do. So I spend 90% of my day going "oh, you're getting down on your tummy?", "oh, you're eating fishies?" etc.

Is this totally normal? How long is it going to last? Am I going to be doing this until he's 8?

Kristin&Frank · February 2011

Yes, I'm convinced it lasts until college. Then we'll have to repeat - "doing shots of vodka mommy"

sixres · February 2011

That is too funny! I thought Aiden was the only one that did that! ALL THE TIME! I have to repeat.every.time! I think he just wants me to verify what he's saying. As if he's unsure. Sometimes it's cute though. I hope we don't have to until we're 8! Haha!

mrsolsenk12 · February 2011

Same thing going on here. If I don't repeat it, he just keeps saying it. It has become so routine for me I hardly even think about it anymore. My youngest neices are 5 yrs. old and I want to say by the time they were 3, they didn't require the repeating anymore.

somethingchangd · February 2011

The funny thing is, it's no big deal when it's the 2 of us. But this weekend it almost sparked an argument because "DH - can't you repeat after him once in awhile?!" It sounds so ridiculous to argue over whose responsibility it is to copy our son.

Sheesh.

futureMrs.Eanes · February 2011

Yes! Reagan does this too! We have to repeat everything she says or she just says it over and over!

JillRock96 · February 2011

YES. If I just answer with "Ok" or "Oh really?" she thinks that I didn't understand what she said, so she repeats, repeats, repeats. I think it is to verify that I know what she's saying.

choco_lab · February 2011

somethingchangd:

The funny thing is, it's no big deal when it's the 2 of us. But this weekend it almost sparked an argument because "DH - can't you repeat after him once in awhile?!" It sounds so ridiculous to argue over whose responsibility it is to copy our son.

Sheesh.

Yes! And I feel exactly the same way! When it's me, DH and DS in the car, I repeat everything DS says ("Yes.. there's a car. Oh yes.. there's a truck. Uh uh.. that's the highway") and think "Hey DH.. why can't YOU do the repeating and give me a break!" Very funny... didn't know anyone else felt that way!

sasa625 · February 2011

Totally normal! It won't last forever, I promise! They need validation that you're listening and they are being understood. I often add to what DD is saying (oh, a car... a red car) It's a good way to expand their language skills while validating what they are saying.

laura1 · February 2011

sasa625:
Totally normal! It won't last forever, I promise! They need validation that you're listening and they are being understood. I often add to what DD is saying (oh, a car... a red car) It's a good way to expand their language skills while validating what they are saying.

I do this too!

I also understand the frustration with DH's. My DS loves to say everyones name, and won't stop until that person answers him...my DH won't always answer him (especially after the 5th or so time he goes through whomever is in the room), so DS is saying "dada, dada, dada, dada" getting louder and louder until I have to tell my DH to answer him. What is the deal with the daddys not wanting to answer the kiddos?

DavezWife · February 2011

oh lordie, just you gals wait until you see what's around the bend.... we went from Me repeating everything to HER parroting EVERY SINGLE SENTANCE..

our days are now:

"Let's get going and go to the store, Ava."

"Going to the store???????????" (big inflection)

"Put your jacket on, it's over there. "

"It's over THERE???????????????"

Tell the dog to go in his room."

"In his room???????????"

etc.

It's hilarious. In that "OMG, you're so irritating in a I wanna schmooch you" way ;-)

SeaSoul · February 2011

Cal's not insistent but we do tend to repeat to a) acknowledge that we are listening, b) acknowledge that we understand, and c) make sure he hears the correct pronunciation.

crystalgirl · March 2011

I'm convinced it will never end. I don't have to repeat everything (good since he regales me with paragraphs now), but do have to acknowledge EVERYTHING. A nod of the head is insufficient and met with, "TALK, MOMMY!!!!!"

I think he'll also refer to himself in the third person for the rest of his life. Stick out tongue

do you have to repeat everything your toddler says?

Re: do you have to repeat everything your toddler says?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards