Toddler not interacting at daycare

[Anonymous]

19-month old DD has been going to her current daycare for about 4 months now. It’s a Spanish immersion in-home with about 8 kids and 2 providers. She is the youngest child there. We speak English at home. DD is delayed for speech and we are waiting to hear back from Montgomery County infants and toddlers. She seems happy to go there every day. The providers say that she is very attached to them but will not try to play with other kids or join in their activities. She is the only child at home and we have not been arranging any play dates now due to the situation. At home she is sweet and affectionate with us. The pediatrician was not concerned at the 18-month visit but we are worried whether this is normal. Should we see a specialist?

[Anonymous]

It’s normal for kids who are around two languages to speak later. No, you don’t need a specialist. Also, it’s normal for kids to parallel play through age two, so don’t be worried about her social interaction either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s normal for kids who are around two languages to speak later. No, you don’t need a specialist. Also, it’s normal for kids to parallel play through age two, so don’t be worried about her social interaction either.

Thank you! They brought it up a few times, so I was concerned that this was out of the ordinary.

[Anonymous]

That’s not concerning at all. Some kids don’t really interact with other kids until much later. There is a lot of parallel play and shadowing that occurs.

[Anonymous]

Parallel play is the norm at this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parallel play is the norm at this age.

+1. My daughter was still mostly doing this in preschool at age 3. She got much more social around 3.5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parallel play is the norm at this age.

+1. My daughter was still mostly doing this in preschool at age 3. She got much more social around 3.5.

Same with my son. I’d worry more that the daycare providers don’t seem familiar with childhood development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parallel play is the norm at this age.

It sounds like parallel play is what OP's child isn't doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parallel play is the norm at this age.

It sounds like parallel play is what OP's child isn't doing.

I don’t see that in the OP at all. If she’s playing by herself next to other kids, that’s parallel play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parallel play is the norm at this age.

It sounds like parallel play is what OP's child isn't doing.

Mine was not parallel playing at that age. Very observant, preferred to study everything extensively before trying. They grow out of it. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

[Anonymous]

What type of interaction are they looking for? She is only 19 months... it is one thing to say she is not interacting with others and screams and cries when a child comes near her but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What type of interaction are they looking for? She is only 19 months... it is one thing to say she is not interacting with others and screams and cries when a child comes near her but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all

OP here. Thanks for all the advice.
They say that she plays happily near the other kids but got upset a few times when they tried to get her to share her toys. And a couple of times DD did not participate well in a group activity so they had to do something separate with her. But for the most part she’s in the same room with the other kids but just prefers doing her own thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of interaction are they looking for? She is only 19 months... it is one thing to say she is not interacting with others and screams and cries when a child comes near her but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all

OP here. Thanks for all the advice.
They say that she plays happily near the other kids but got upset a few times when they tried to get her to share her toys. And a couple of times DD did not participate well in a group activity so they had to do something separate with her. But for the most part she’s in the same room with the other kids but just prefers doing her own thing.

You need to find a new daycare. They don’t understand normal child development and that is very concerning. Every thing you described is 100% normal.

-daycare worker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of interaction are they looking for? She is only 19 months... it is one thing to say she is not interacting with others and screams and cries when a child comes near her but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all

OP here. Thanks for all the advice.
They say that she plays happily near the other kids but got upset a few times when they tried to get her to share her toys. And a couple of times DD did not participate well in a group activity so they had to do something separate with her. But for the most part she’s in the same room with the other kids but just prefers doing her own thing.

You need to find a new daycare. They don’t understand normal child development and that is very concerning. Every thing you described is 100% normal.

-daycare worker.

Yep. Former daycare teacher here. None of what you said is concerning.

[Anonymous]

She's 19 months old and confused as hell.