Expert Advice for Preschool
My 27 month old son has started repeating a word 3 to 4 times. For example, if he wants to tell you that the dog is asleep he will say, "sleep, sleep, sleep" and point to the dog instead of saying "dog sleep." Or one time a man gave him a ball and he will show you the ball and say, "man, man, man." The only way we can get him to speak in a full sentence is if we have him repeat after us one word at a time. Should we be worried? He does this constantly.
- Carrie, Comanche, OK
Dr. Yinka Davies, Pediatrician, Mother of Two, says:
The time table for language development can be broad, and there can be a few stumbles along the way. Repeating words at 27 months of age can be a normal part of development. Your son is able to make appropriate associations with words and speaking in full sentences after you is a reassuring sign. If the problems persist and you are not noticing progress in his language skills I would then bring up these concerns with your primary care taker.
