Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school 4 year old using made up words

My 4 year old uses made up words, he has his own language going on, its really bizarre. He is very verbal and has a huge vocabulary for his age (he started reading at 2.7 or so), so I know he isn't doing it because he cant communicate properly.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you correct them and make them speak properly?

I would enjoy it and make a dictionary! Everyone has their own tolerance for the 'make belive stuff.' ((wink))

LOL, yes my DS5 did that around 3 or 4 too. He always had a great vocabulary as well. He would say something and then I would be quite confused and then he would tell me the made up definition as if I should know it. And then he started to make up expressions...of course they were not at all expressions and were quite comical. He would say "sometimes people say that" I would laugh to myself as clearly he was the only one that would ever say that. DS5 was also interested in other languages and learning them. You may want to try that with your 4yo. My DS enjoyed learning the alphabet in sign language and in spanish and then other words in spanish. He still likes to pick out words and learn them in as many languages as possible.

I second the dictionary. My cousins and I came up with another language around that age out of boredom and curiosity as to how languages develop, and we still have some of the papers written in our language saved in a box in the basement...

My DS 5 does this all of the time. I swear he has his own language that he can understand.

The dictionary is a great idea, I hadn't thought of that, I bet that will be really cute for him (and me) to read when he is older too.

Once again, glad to find there are other kids out there with the same kind of things going on. Thanks!

Some of my favorites from DS:

larryified = marching around with your chest puffed out. (etymologically related to "hilarious"?)

expulsion bridge = a bridge that's not a suspension bridge (thinking expelled vs. suspended at school?)

Hahaha, ok this is great to read, that is exactly what his words are like.

He decided the other day that if one thumb up means good, then a thumb and an index finger must mean "not good". He explained himself and managed to convince a room full of people that it made perfect sense.

my daughter did this at two and a half too and people tried to correct her...just let him roll with it, she actually doesn't do it as much anymore. She also read at 2 and is now making up amazing songs and stories. Enjoy his creativity.

I used to drive my DH crazy with my 'made up expressions' when DS was small. DH was convinsed that I would 'confuse' him - HA HA!

When I took things out of the refrigerator, I would 'cool them up' in the microwave so that they would still be nice and cool (DS's prefered temperature) and yet not icy cold.

I really liked being a mom of a toddler because it gave me the freedom to invent so much language. Then DS grew up and I started doing it here!

Smiles,
Grinity