Help! Toddler hates to talk to Nana on the phone?

Question

Our 2 1/2 year old does not want to talk to her Nana on the phone, which is a big issue since she lives 3 hours away - we can only visit her about once a month (she can't drive), but she calls almost every day.

This not wanting to talk to Nana issue started maybe about 6 months ago with us having to coax her into talking on the phone - but that was happening with both my parents and Nana. She now loves to talk to Grammie and Grampy (who only live 20 minutes away and see her all the time), but as soon as we pick up the phone and say, "Hi Nana," she covers her ears and scrunches down on the couch or runs away - we have to threaten her (no Toy Story tonight) to get her to just say a few words. This big change occurred after Nana spent Christmas week at our house in an attempt to get them to connect, which just went so bad - she didn't even want to play with Nana. Nana is 80 years old and is EXTREMELY sensitive - she thinks her granddaughter hates her. We just don't know what to do!

Answer 1

Instead of talking on the phone with Nana maybe she could send her pictures she has drawn or colored. Send lots of pics of the child doing activities. You could tape the child singing a song or saying "itsy bitsy spider", send tapes of her dancing and have her wave to Nana. Tell Nana you dont know why but the child really doesnt want to talk on the phone "all of a sudden". As the child grows a little more then you can tell her it hurts Nana's feelings and maybe they will have a great relationship when shes older.

Answer 2

Sometimes kids just prefer certain people as we adults do. As far as the phone thing goes, my 2 1/2 year old twins either wont quit talking, or won't talk at all!!! Don't push it though. If your child doesn't want to talk, she shouldn't be forced. Then she might hate talking on the phone all together. Also you can't force her to like Nana. I would just keep trying to get together with Nana and let the child lead. Let the child go to nana on her own, don't push her. My kids still have a few people they don't like, and sadly we live 1500 miles from home as my husband is in the military, so its really hard when we make it home once a year, just for the twins to pick and chose relatives to like and not like, but still we do not force it. They are little people, with likes and dislikes. Hopefully your daughter will come around more to Nana on her own. Good luck

Answer 3

Forcing your toddler to talk to her on the phone will only make it worse. She probably is just really uncomfortable doing it. If talking to her is so important to Nana, then you may have to provide incentive, rather than punishment.

Take your toddler some where she likes to go. Then, as soon as you get home, ask her to tell Nana all about it. Make the phone call yourself. Maybe in the excitement of an adventure, she will have something to say and it will be easier.

Otherwise, you may have to tell Nana that she just isn't comfortable on the phone and it may take a little while for her to get the hang of it.

Answer 4

If a toddler is clinging and does not want to go to dad or a grandparent, don’t force the issue or make a fuss.

Make sure that the child knows that you trust this person by staying close, talking with and doing things with that person.
You might notice – aloud – that the person is doing something interesting. Your child may watch while staying very close to you. Maybe try to put the phone on speaker phone if you can.
Don’t push the child to go and join in.
Maybe you could do something together, and the parent who is close can invite the child to join into the phone conversation.
If it does not work the first time, don’t make a fuss, but try again, perhaps when the child is not tired.
If the people talking are relating well to each other, your child will become close again with time.

PRAISE THE GOOD BEHAVIOURS
TIME
PERSEVERANCE
PATIENCE
your baby is at a stage where they "Do it by my own self". no matter what you say or do.

Answer 5

I am sympathetic to the fact that NaNa is 80 years old. but talking should be something a child looks forward to. Child should not be forced into talking on the phone. Children have started having speech problems for less, stuttering, blocking. You really do not want this to happen for your child.

Answer 6

As long as she is nice to her Nana when she sees her, I don't think you should worry too much about it. Some kids just don't like to talk on the phone. I would concentrate more on teaching her to be as respectable as a 2.5 y.o. can be when she is actually in the room with Nana. She'll come around about the phone thing.

Answer 7

Why would you force your daughter to talk to Nana? Would you want to talk on the phone if you were forced or threatened? Surely your Nana isn't that sensitive, who's more mature your toddler or your Nana? She must have had kids and should understand what they are like especially toddlers.

Answer 8

nothing u can do, tell nana that shes only 2 and hates the phone for some reason, u dont have to tell nana that she talks to her other grandparents on the phone., tell her she does it to everyone. maybe the child just doesnt like her voice

Answer 9

Wow! You sound like me. I honestly have this "telephone phobia" too. the suitable that I honestly were waiting to figure is that i pick to communicate on my own words, no longer on the spur of the on the spot. no matter if i comprehend who it really is, i received't answer. My youngest son has been clinically determined with Asperger's syndrome (a mushy type of Autism). His father and new spouse took him to a nicely commonplace college and that become the analysis. The straightforward ingredient is that I had self clinically determined with an identical ingredient, about 3 years previous. between the indications is having a communique deficit. They often have a extreme I.Q.,overly gentle to what others imagine, etc etc. seem it up.

Answer 10

I think you you should do a tape of her maybe a video if you can affor it.That would be a great surprise for her and might get your daughter to be her self and get your nana to not miss out on such a great kid! Then you can ease into it thats for nana on the tape tell her to sing or dance whatever the things she likes to do.You punishing her only makes her hate the situation of talking to NaNa worse,and your trying to make it betterso try my method what can it hurt?