3.5 year old. language

[ksh01]

Hi,
I have a son who will be 4 this August. all his physical milestones were within normal range but on the upper limit. he crawled when he was 10 months, walked when he was 18 months, has started pedaling bi cycle a couple of months back. He goes to play school. teacher says he is very bright grasps everything fast and has a good memory and plays with other children. Problem is he is living in a multilingual environment, we speak tamil at home, in school its english/marathi or hindi. he understand all languages but his expressive language is limited. he describes things around him in mother tongue, strings 3-4 words in english and other language too, can express his needs. His vocabulary is very good knows all flowers, fruits, animals, automobiles, alphabets etc. He has a good aptitude for shape recognition just by looking at a car he can tell which brand it is like toyota innova, corolla, nano etc  but as compared to other children doe not converse much with other kids of his age. he enjoys with them in school at park but doesn't have any close friends or special friends whose house he visits or craves to play with. I leave him with my parents and he is a very happy kid plays with my father, me, my husband. he is happy wherever he is. enjoys playing alone with his cars, scribbling, and other toys. he has a good ear for music and whatever he speaks its clear speech. but i am worried whether this delayed language is normal or not. teachers say he is very intelligent and social but when i see around he doesn't crave for other kids is happy could it because of language barrier? i am confused pl help.

[benjimom]

He could just be an introvert and also all the languages are hard to overcome.  YOu could have him evaluated by a speech therapist to see about his language development, do it in his most strong language.  My son was delayed in speech, he did not talk until after age three.  IT was hard.

[ksh01]

Thanks for your comments, made me feel much better. To answer you both, his teachers are not concerned about him nor are my relatives (they my aprents, in laws, my husband feel i am Paranoid) they say he is very happy in school, attentive but pretends not to pay attention but understands everything. They want us to help him develop his fine motor skills as he doesn't color within shape and they have started with pre writing patterns which he doesn't do, at home when i ask him to he knows and he does, he can print X,D and O. He is a very willful child what he wants he will do. he does not feel left out he is happy by himself. and even when he is with others he is the one who laughs the most and  enjoys the most. I feel once he develops language skills he will interact more. when he is with others he understands what they say but in reply repeats whatever they say!!!! I think we all work in our society and all others are mothers who are there at home so they have their own circle. I am an introvert so is my husband we have few but very good friends. as during entire day he is away at my parents place all his interactions is happening with elders. he doesn't mind at all is very content. Its just that i feel lots going on in his head but expression less.........thanks once again for your reassurance

[RockRose]

I don't think I've seen any children craving to play with other children at that age.  They DO play with them,  and when the mothers arrange playdates they do well for a couple hours,  or if they are at a park they willingly play in groups or pairs,  but I don't think at 3.5 they form deep bonds with each other.

Or anyway,  my kids didn't.  It was fun to have a friend over,  but there wasn't an appearance of craving that child.  And after awhile of playing,  they were ready to be separated again.

He sounds like a delightful child.