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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DD is almost 4, but you’d think she was a very petite elderly person if you ever met her.

She’s never behaved as a typical child.  She has never shown any interest in children her own age, but enjoys having conversations with adults.  She likes her morning hot tea and to “read” the newspaper.  She always asks my mother to read her the front page of the New York Times every morning, and has since she was 2.  She’s a very politically aware preschooler.  She loves spending time with herself, “sewing” and listening to audiobooks or classical music.  Despite the fact we’ve taken her to several playgrounds, she never plays.  She always sits on the bench and complains it’s too cold, too hot, too windy or that there are “too many children.”

She does have interests that are typical for her age.  She loves her Calico Critters dollhouse and will entertain herself for hours. She loves to color.  She also has an affinity for two classic nursery rhyme albums, dress-up and typical fairy tales.

We always attributed her personality to the fact my mother (in her late 70s) has been her childcare provider since she was an infant.  They have a lot of similar interest and even share the same Old Jewish Brooklyn Lady accent despite the fact we currently live in the Midwest (although DH & I both lived in DC pre-kids).

It was all cute and endearing but we put DD in preschool in September and her anti-social behavior hasn’t improved.  She will outright state she doesn’t like children, although she admits she is also a child.  She makes no attempts to befriend them and seems annoyed by her peers.  She can act out and have meltdowns if her play is interrupted.  She likes to maintain her own space and does not engage with classroom activities.  She attends a Waldorf preschool where students are not forced to be involved in any activity, but usually encouraged.  She will always take the solo option.  She has two teachers who say she’s just very peculiar but incredibly bright.  She’s always had high vocabulary for her age, she started speaking in full sentences before her first birthday.  She’s able to communicate with adults very well, often in the way you’d expect a much older child to speak.  But she has no social skills with her peers, and I don’t know if it’s because she can’t or because she doesn’t want to.

We’ve brought up with concerns to pediatrician and entertained the idea of her being on the ASD but that doesn’t feel well either.

My mother is a bit witchy and mystical and strongly believes she is reincarnated.  I am a very pragmatic person, but sometimes it certainly feels like that could be true.

She’s really just such an interesting person.  I have a 6&2-year-old as well and they’re so different from her.  I love everything about her.  I find her so fascinating.  Sometimes I think she could move out of the house now.  She seems to only need us for physical help.  To make a meal or read something complex.  Sometimes I wonder if she’ll be ready to move out by 7-years-old, once she’s a stronger reader and can open a jar or jelly.  I feel like she’d be totally self sufficient.

I do really worry about her socially.  I hope she grows out of it, but she seems completely happy having nothing to do with anyone her own age.  [/quote]

Huh at first I thought this sounded like my oldest who really preferred adults around this age, partly because she was very advanced linguistically and academically. Now in elementary school she loves to play with kids her age although she’s still very into reading and some other older person stuff. But she always engaged in parallel play and seemed to enjoy being around other children so this sounds pretty extreme. I think you might want to schedule something with a developmental pediatrician to see what they think. Refusing to play with other kids at all is fairly unusual for a middle kid. It’s great you are noticing now so if there’s some sort of help that might benefit her you can get it started before elementary school. [/quote]

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