Normal 3 year old behavior?

Posted: Wed, May 23 2012, 4:18 pm Post subject: normal 3 year old behavior?

My just turned 3 year old son is in daycare until 4:00 everyday. He says he has friends there and his teachers say he plays normally, like all the other kids. At home however, I noticed that he would rather play by himself. He occasionally plays with his 4yo sister, but generally he is content playing alone. He never wants to play with friends, and when we go the playground he prefers to go to areas that have fewer kids. When we see someone from his gan he runs over all excitedly to tell me he sees his friend. Is it normal that he always wants to play by himself. My daughter (4) always wants to play with friends. Everyday she is at a friend's house or a friend is at our house. She was never in an all day daycare program, she started at regular gan (ends at 1:30) so I don't know if it's because of that, or just personality.
Is it something to worry about?

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 18 2005 Posts: 2909

I think its perfectly normal

Posted: Wed, May 23 2012, 8:08 pm Post subject: re: normal 3 year old behavior?

normal

Posted: Wed, May 23 2012, 9:20 pm Post subject: re: normal 3 year old behavior?

I think normal also.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 19 2011 Posts: 1977

Normal. If he's in daycare all day, he probably needs some time to chill out. Introverts draw energy from being on their own. Extroverts draw energy from being with people. Neither is bad - just different. (I'm an introvert and have both intro and extroverted children). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain is an excellent read on this topic if you are still concerned.

Gold Member Joined: Dec 21 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1519

Sounds like that's his nature, nothing abnormal about it.

Silver Member Joined: May 29 2008 Posts: 769

I also have an introverted 3 year old. If it weren't for the other parents at his gan telling me how their kids are always talking about the fun they have playing with DS, I would think he never socializes at all! He's very into puzzles and books, or buildings things by himself. That's just his personality. Enjoy the quiet moments Smile