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Behaviour/development

Advanced toddler? Is this mad?

103 replies

ItsOkayItsJustMyBreath · 26/11/2012 20:50

Have NCed for this as it feels a of a cringy thing to ask Blush

Ds is 21 months and I am beginning to think that he may be showing signs of being advanced. By this I mean he knows the alphabet both names of the letters and their sounds, he can count to 12 and knows other numbers such as 20, 100, 150 but can only count objects up to 12 iyswim. He talks a lot and uses the correct verb tenses and has a very wide vocabulary. He is incredibly inquisitive, he genuinely wants to 'learn' and finds it interesting.
Today he 'sounded out/ read' his first word, "sky". It was unprompted and in the middle of the town centre.

My question is, is this normal development? Even if it is advanced it doesn't necessarily mean that he will always be advanced does it?

Sorry to be so pfb, my DM is getting very excited at the prospect of another genius in the family (the others being my DB and my biological father) and I'm not sure what to say to her as it is exciting but everyone thinks their child is brilliant don't they? Grin

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HappyHugs · 26/11/2012 20:56

No, absolutely not 'normal'. Is this your only dc? I would say if what you say is true you have an exceptionally bright child. Many 21month olds barely have a single word. I have no experience in genius children bit I'm sure someone will be on soon enough to advise you...

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lingle · 26/11/2012 20:57

we ought to flame you but somehow you sound really sweet... Grin

I have no idea but I think it must be very good for him to have a grandma who openly thinks he's the bees knees and a mum who secretly agrees....

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vix206 · 26/11/2012 20:57

My DS (26 months) was doing all of that at 21 months but not the reading. The reading/sounding out bit is remarkable!

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OverlyWordyHurdyGurdy · 26/11/2012 20:58

That's way more advanced than my 24 month old!

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OverlyWordyHurdyGurdy · 26/11/2012 20:59

When you say 'other geniuses', what do you mean?

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rhetorician · 26/11/2012 21:00

he sounds pretty advanced to me - I have a nearly 4 year old who can't do some of those things; how exciting for all of you.

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Sirzy · 26/11/2012 21:00

That does sound advanced, but I would try to reign your mum in from getting too carried away.

Just keep on letting him enjoy what he is doing.

DS is just 3 and has been able to count for ages but is only just begining to be able to (or want to!) count items rather than just recite the numbers.

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ledkr · 26/11/2012 21:03

Are you sure? Not kidding? My 22 month old jumps off sofas pulls everything out of cupboards plays on just dance with a broken controller and eats wood lice Grin I just love her so much.

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MrsRhettButler · 26/11/2012 21:08

Dd1 could do all the other stuff at that age but NOT the sounding out of a whole word! That's advanced if you ask me.

Fwiw dd1 is not a genius Grin

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MrsRhettButler · 26/11/2012 21:10

I mean she talked, but couldn't read any words.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 26/11/2012 21:10

I started reading at that age, and was indeed a gifted child. I know that will be hard to believe from the drivel I post here though :)

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ItsOkayItsJustMyBreath · 26/11/2012 21:12

Oh god, I expected a flaming for being so pfb, which I know I am and yes, he is an only and will reamin so. Thank you for your answers, I guess that I'm worried about getting carried away with it. I do just follow his lead, I am not a pushy mum and never want to be one!

OverlyWordy The other brainy ones in my family are my father (a scientist) and my brother (physics Confused).

I didn't want to ask in RL as it is so very cringy, also, not sure what to do about it if he is!

ledkr We know each other, will pm you but only if you promise not to flame!

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ItsOkayItsJustMyBreath · 26/11/2012 21:15

I am so astonished that he actually sounded out s..k..y, sky although I will never get it due to an inherent hatred of the Murdoch's.

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SavoirFaire · 26/11/2012 21:16

That is wonderful. My DS was doing most of that at around the same age - certainly before 2 - although not the sounding out (doing that nearer to 3) and I don't think he'd have recognised 100 or 150 at that point, but he did recognise 20, 30 as well as counting above 10 before 2. It is often remarked upon by others that he is quite bright and his language in particular has always been very advanced in comparison with friends of the same age. People used to drive me slightly mad by saying 'well he's just reciting numbers parrot-fashion' when it was perfectly clear if you spent 2 minutes with him that he could do one-to-one recognition and sequencing perfectly. He could add single digits before 3. However, I'm not naive enough to think that reaching some milestones earlier than others at this age = brighter than others / more academic in the long term and I spend a lot of time trying to remind my MIL others about that and not to put any pressure on him. We will see what pans out. As I have said elsewhere on here, two of the brightest people I know (and I was at Cambridge and worked in a top 5 university, so I've met a few people with freaky levels of intelligence) didn't say a word until after their second birthdays. My brother could read at three, but never met any real academic potential - doesn't have A Levels for example. So, have fun, don't put any pressure on and don't pay too much attention to how he compares with others just yet (a bit of internal crowing is always allowed though!). As a wise woman said to me 'It's a stage, not an age'.

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Pochemuchka · 26/11/2012 21:17

Agreed about the sounding out thing - that is quite unusual!

DD was able to do all the other things you mention at about 18 months old but isn't a genius (she's 3.7 now) :)

I'm quite relieved actually as I was a G&T child and it did me no favours in the long run.
I'd rein your mum in a little and just carry on nurturing his skills by doing the things he loves (you're obviously doing something right already).
Plenty of time for G&T stuff in the future and it may well have evened out as he gets older.

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BrightenMyNorthernSky · 26/11/2012 21:19

I agree that that sounds very advanced... I am the proud mother of a 19 month old who, while adept at climbing the furniture and turning the washing machine on on a 90 degree cycle, still has very few words (mainly "me! me me meeeeee!", "NO!", and "Car!!" [to be shouted repeatedly at anything with wheels]). He definitely can't count to anything (and I am fairly sure that he has no grasp of any sort of concept of quantities).

By contrast I also have a 4 year old who was an early talker and extremely numerate (could easily count (objects, rather than rote) to 50+ by 2, and do basic sums). It was obvious from very early on that he was "academic" (in that he would sit still for long books as a baby, point things out in them, ask questions as soon as he could talk, point out random shapes in the street - e.g. rectangles being the paving stones, triangles as road signs from about 18 months), but it has also been self perpetuating - he loves learning, and so we learn. It has been fun though, and an education for me to learn along side him (DS2, on the other hand, has been an education in babyproofing, and then babyproofing some more, and realising that I still haven't quite babyproofed enough Grin. But he does have the most gorgeous blonde curls...). Enjoy your little boy!

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ItsOkayItsJustMyBreath · 26/11/2012 21:21

I like that phrase Savoir, think I will use it as my new mantra. I have said to DM that it may not mean anything and that all children develop at different rates. My DB was very late with speech, physical milestones etc and yet managed a 1st at university and now has a brilliant career. My father failed his 11+ but has become an internationally renowned scientist and a shit human being.

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amck5700 · 26/11/2012 21:24

That is very bright- my youngest could do most of that - he didn't attempt to read but he could speak in sentences by then -he could also recognise poems/rhymes from the shape they made on the page. My eldest didn't talk a lot but he knew all his colours before he was two he used to lick the "orange" splodge in the book though!! He could also do a 50 piece jigsaw with no picture by 2 and a half and build proper structures with lego. He built a structure 9 blocks high at his age 2 check while my OH was gabbing with the HV :o

I wouldn't say either of them are geniuses - they have always been top of their class in a normal primary though. Eldest just gone to High school so I guess we will get a better idea then.

I'd just enjoy your clever wee monkey. My 11 year old informs me that the best ages to learn are age 2 and during puberty as this is when the brain is most receptive!

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beatofthedrum · 26/11/2012 21:27

ledkr, my ds is same age as your dd and is into just the same things, though can add dancing on spilt cereal while cramming it into his mouth and laughing uncontrollably plus shouting CAR at some things that are cars and some things that clearly are not...:)
OP your ds sounds incredibly advanced to me! You are not being pfb in my opinion, that sounds incredible!

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beatofthedrum · 26/11/2012 21:28

Ha ha, x-post Brighten

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AnaisB · 26/11/2012 21:32

He sounds pretty advanced to me. Dd 22 months is meeting all her milestones but is nowhere near that level.

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ledkr · 26/11/2012 21:33

Pm me then op but I think I've just guessed

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WeAreSix · 26/11/2012 21:33

My DD was the same. She was hard work because she was like a sponge, and constantly wanted more information. I was called into her nursery when she was 3.5 because they didn't have the resources to continue to challenge her and she was reading the books they had.

She is now 9. Her learning has evened out a bit throughout school (although I'm not convinced they push her), however her literacy is above her age, her maths is about average. She loves science, reads everything and generally loves learning. She wants to be a scientist and 'save the world'. Her current project is designing a petrol free car.

Her younger sibling has SEN so I have a full spectrum of learning! Both children need lots of support, so hard work either way :)

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ledkr · 26/11/2012 21:36

Oh yes and dd also says pooh at anything brown. Like for example cake or chocolate Blush
As an aside she does practically dress herself which always impresses me especially when she yanks her leggings up to her neck haha

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ItsOkayItsJustMyBreath · 26/11/2012 21:40

Ah, see ds could never dress himself, he can undress, in public, at any given opportunity but, as yet, hasn't found a love of clothes in general!

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