Just not a player

[Momof4]

I have a 3 year old boy who was following the older boy around nonstop saying what he said and doing exactly as he did for at least a year. Then the older boy graduated last Sept. for JK. The 3 year old boy was completely lost and didn't know how to play here but he's an only child at home and knows how to play there so I just waited. He has improved and is doing great now, but it took several months of encouraging him to play with the other children who were still here. He just missed his mentor so much.

I'm wondering if the little boy in your care follows his older siblings around at home the way this boy followed the older boy around. I felt like this boy didn't know how to use his own imagination or his own mind and I'm thrilled to see that he is learning to do that now. Could that be the problem in your case too? Check with the Mom and keep up the good work.

[gcj]

I have a 3 year old boy who was following the older boy around nonstop saying what he said and doing exactly as he did for at least a year. Then the older boy graduated last Sept. for JK. The 3 year old boy was completely lost and didn't know how to play here but he's an only child at home and knows how to play there so I just waited. He has improved and is doing great now, but it took several months of encouraging him to play with the other children who were still here. He just missed his mentor so much.

I'm wondering if the little boy in your care follows his older siblings around at home the way this boy followed the older boy around. I felt like this boy didn't know how to use his own imagination or his own mind and I'm thrilled to see that he is learning to do that now. Could that be the problem in your case too? Check with the Mom and keep up the good work.

yeah, absolutely. he's the youngest of 4. When others are here and are leading him in play, he plays along for a bit, but on his own really can't play at all. I mean not even pushing around cars! But, he's happy..... he'll find a piece of dust on the floor (yes, I have dust!) and just kind of push it around...perfectly content.