Is my 3 year old learning at the right level?

Question

My 3 year old daughter is soooo smart! She knows EVERYTHING! The problem is that she has a lot of problem pronouncing her words. You really have to listen to understand what she is saying. I on the other hand get exactly what she's saying 98% of the time. But thats cause I am a stay at home mom and am with her ALL DAY EVERY DAY. She pronounces a lot of things wrong. Like "Daddy" is "Aggy", Dora is "Gora", Fish is "bish" and the list goes on and on. Almost every word is mispronounced. And when you try to correct her she just crosses her arms and refuses to talk. LOL She's hardheaded like her DADDY! Also, she can't draw, like circles, or a straight line. She does however, do zigzags across a paper. In straight rows all the way down an entire sheet, as if she is writing. She can't peddle a bike forward, only backwards. But when you try to help her on any of this she gets mad and doesn't want to do it anymore. Has anybody else had this problem? Is she learning at a normal rate?

Thank you all for all of the great answers! I don't push her to do anything she doesn't want to. The way I see it is that she will learn when she's good and ready. I've just had a couple people comment on her speech which is the only thing that has me a little worried. But I also think that has a LOT to do with the fact that I slacked on taking her pacifier away from her. She had it up until her 3rd birthday in October. Since then I have disappeared it! And her speech has been improving a LOT. Its just she listens more to the SOUND of things, rather than how they are pronounced. She's learning though. Another word she mispronounces is "please" she says "geese". But she is very bright. Knows all of her colors, can count to 10. Understands both english & spanish and is also learning her ABC's. More the melody, but really tries to say each letter. As for the bike...I don't mean an actual bike. I bought her a SmartCycle, which is like an educational exercise bike for kids.

Answer 1

I have a four year old. SHe's right on track. She's only three. Her little body is still developing and learning how it works. She also is getting mad because she wants to do it on her own. As her mom, you need to step back and let her try and fail. Just make sure she's safe and let her get frustrated if she needs to. The speech will come, it's still developing.

Answer 2

Is she in preschool yet? Not that she has to be. But a lot of the things you mention, they start learning in preschool. Even the bicycle riding. My son couldn't ride a trike, and then once he started preschool, he saw all the other kids, and picked it right up. Same with holding pencils. Some kids don't pick that up until they're almost in kindergarten. The only thing I'd talk to the doc about is her speech. Ask if she's where she needs to be. I have a friend who's daughter was very smart, but needed speech therapy. You don't want her setting up bad speech habits that stick with her. If she sets up good habits now, it will be easier to break. And the specialists probably know ways of working with kids so they want to learn.

Answer 3

Slow down, Mom. Her scribbling is age-appropriate, so is her bike pedalling. Of course she gets mad-- it's frustration from you pushing her to do something she's not developmentally mature enough for. Wait for 6 mos to a year for the bike AND the written circles.
As far as her speech goes, strangers should be able to understand her most of the time (about 75%). The articulation errors she is saying are normal processes, as far as I can tell from the examples you give. She should also be using 3-4 word sentences (at a minimum), plurals, past tense for regular verbs and have an expressive vocabulary of over a hundred words. Receptively, she should be able to follow 2-part commands, such as "please take the tissue away from Joey and put it in the trash".
My suggestion is to put her in preschool. She needs to be socialized with other kids, and to be immersed in language opportunities with the rest of her classmates. She will imitate their speech and her language skills will really blossom.
If she goes another 6 months and doesn't improve much, request an evaluation by the public school's speech pathologist. This needs to be in writing and directed to the principal at your neighborhood elementary school.

Answer 4

I have seen the bike/trike thing. It's easier to pedel backwards. Ask your pediatrician if she needs speech therapy. I doubt it. just make sure you continue to tale normal to her and never use baby talk.

She digs in her heels because she is acting just right developmentally. You and her have a strong enough bond so that she feels safe to act autonomously.

Stand back and let her know that help is available, but don't always go to her aid.

She seems just fine for three.

Answer 5

First off don't ever compare your girl to any other child! Every child is differant and will do things at differant paces. Sounds like your girl is doing just fine! Don't ever let anyone tell you any differant! Just keep trying to help her with her words and maybe instead of correcting her when she says it wrong make a game of it and play the game together so that you are teaching her but she isn't realizing it as correction.
She is perfectly normal!

Answer 6

My nephew just turned 3 and these are books he has for ABC'S Kindergarten ABC by Jacqueline Rogers Star Wars ABC by Scholastic Miss Spider's Abc Book by David Kirk ABC for You and Me by Meg Girnis and Shirley Leamon Green ABC A Family Alphabet Book by Bobbie Combs

Answer 7

well everthing started to seem okay but the thing about pedaling a bike only backwards is not good i know that is does not sound that bad,but it is a cordex simtem you should ask your family doctor what its all about.