Is It Normal for a 3Yr Old to Repeat Things over and Over?

Updated on August 24, 2008
R.M. asks from Oswego, IL
18 answers

Recently my 3yr old daughter has been repeating everything i say, and repeating things like a word over and over until i have to tell her to stop saying the same thing over and over, because she gets louder and it starts to drive me crazy! For example this morning she kept saying "its raining, its raining" like a hundred times. She had surgery in June, and had tubes put in and tonsils and adnoids removed, so i don't know if she is doing this because she is hearing everything more clearly now, or if this is a phase? Any help or advice you could give me would be great thanks in advance.

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So What Happened?

Wow thanks moms so much for all the responses. Im going to try all the suggestions and see what works. I want my daughter to express herself, just not in a way that annoys everyone around her. She loves to sing songs and has very grown up conversations with you, she just has a hard time with pronouncing words correctly and the repeating. Thanks again for all the help and advice. Its nice to know that i am not the only one going through this.

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

This went on with my son too after his tonsils were removed. He could hear. He was so excited that he had to repeat and repeat and repeat.lol

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Some could be because she can hear. Try not to take the excitement out of her. Hold her and hug her and let her see how happy you are for her. Some is definately the age also.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

The repetition of language is natural, but since your daughter keeps going on and on, I would suggest a Speech/Language evaluation. A speech pathologist would be able to answer your questions and come up with strategies and information.

About me: Elementary educator for 28 years. Mother of a 13 yr. old daughter, stepmother of a 22 yr. old daughter.

A.

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

My granddaughter, just after her second birthday, had tubes put in, and because of what I saw her doing, I think you may be right when you say she may be doing it because she hears better. My g.d. would cover and then uncover her ears, for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. I think because she remembered how everything sounded before, like she was under water, and now everything was so clear, I think she was just experimenting to find out for herself how different it was. She also did some repeating, but I don't think it was to the extent that you indicated.

But talk to her doctor. Just to put your mind at ease.

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L.C.

answers from Chicago on

i'm no speech therapist, but could this also be a way of her continuing to learn how to talk and connect language with her environment? you articulate an observation and she repeats it. probably not a reason to get annoyed.

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

The answer to your question is yes. They certainly don't all do it, but I've taken care of a few who did in my day care home.

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D.W.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, oh yes! What I did was make songs up to some of the things she would repeat, it would make it fun! I am also deaf in one ear and know that on those rare occasions that I can feel a sound or hear something, I want to repeat it too. It is a new experience for her and she is just, in her way, celebrating a gift she has been blessed with. It can be crazy at times, but we make it fun by making up songs. Poems, riddles, sayings, whatever I can to expand her vocabulary - find rhyming words to the ones she uses. I am a homeschool mom so whatever way you can, make it a learning experience. Some day, you will miss these moments!

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E.P.

answers from Chicago on

I'm guessing it is just a phase and she is looking for attention and getting it any way she can - positive or negative...(or she's totally enjoying her new found hearing???!!!) . If you are planning a wedding and you babysit others....you sound like a very busy woman and it may be a way to vie for your attention. I wouldn't try to give this phase too much attention - maybe try to distract her when she is doing it to get her involved in something else but carve out some alone time with her and see if this new phase diminishes. Stress in a child can come out in odd ways! Congratulations on your new changes - 2008 sounds like a wonderful year for you!

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S.W.

answers from Chicago on

It is very normal.

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E.H.

answers from Chicago on

It is very normal for that age to repeat actions over and over, I don't see how verbal skills would be any different. It sounds like she is also playing with her voice to see how loud she can get and maybe even doing "tones" which are an important part of some languages (like Chinese) and sometimes hard for adults whose mother laguange doesn't include these tones to detect and it just sounds like repeating the same thing. If it bothers you, you could ask her to do it in another room or help her practice "inside voice" that is a great game to turn it into as most children that age are working on inside and outside voice.

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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

What helped with one of my charges was that I gave her a three time limit. I would count them for her. She had signs of austism, repetitions is one. So I asked a specialist and they suggested the three time limit. It helped, I don't know why it wouldn't help for someone who doesn't have austism. I told her that she could say anything and repeat it but after the third time we would move on. I would count what she said and before the second week, she stopped. I was kind and gentle about it and didn't get frustrated so she saw it did not get any reactions to it.
Good luck.

K.

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J.A.

answers from Rockford on

You might want to discuss this with your pediatrician on your next visit. Sometimes that kind of repetition is just a phase, or it could be symptomatic of something. To be safe, mention it to your doctor, and see if he sees reason to be concerned about anything.

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

Maybe she sees it get a rise out of you. Ignore it hard core for a few days and see if she stops.

Oh also when she says something repeat it back to her 1x, so she says, "its raining," then you say, "oh it is raining." And see if she stops. My guy is a little younger but he keeps repeating until I repeat to him what he says, I guess for confirmation??

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S.S.

answers from Champaign on

Don't worry- my niece is 3 1/2 and has been in his phase since she was probably close to 3 years old. She will repeat herself over and over until she has our attention or does it to get something she wants. It drives my poor sister out of her mind. I know not all kids go through this but my niece is and it's bad so don't worry just hang in there and hopefully she will come out of it soon.

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A.T.

answers from Chicago on

Phase. Our older daughter is a very intense kid and could repeat stuff or ask the same question like a billion times...she was just burning it into her brain I think. Our younger one did it too- although her goal was to drive us up a wall....good luck keeping your sanity!

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

I would check if she has other symptoms of autism just in case. Repetition a few times sounds more normal. I hope she doesn't but in case she does, if caught early, it will help her a lot in the long run. Good luck.

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V.P.

answers from Chicago on

congrats on getting marry in october i have a 3 yr.old daughter and i know exactly what your going through it is normal so we just have to be patient and wait for the phase to be over.

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T.S.

answers from Chicago on

Well, I sure hope it's normal because my 3 y/o son does it all the time. He will repeat something until he gets confirmation from us. "It's raining. It's raining" "Yes, Jacob, it's raining." Then he's done and goes on to the next thing. Lol.

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