20 months and counting

[shoptilidrop]

Hi All

just after a bit of advice really. Please dont see this as a bragging thread, it isnt , i just would like to know how to progress.

DD appears to be very bright. TBH it totally astounds me. However she is counting to 10 on her own, can get half was through the alaphabet and is speaking in sentences. Her vocab is pretty amazing, and she learns new words at the drop of a hat. She also says please, thank you and sorry in their proper contexts.

As i said im not sure where this has come from, shes a first child, she does go to a fab cm, who i know has a had in the counting and alaphabet, as i hadnt even done these with her ( thought she was too young.. what a bad mummy i am)

anyways, the downside to this is she does get bored easily. She is very busy and likes to have a lot do to. So how to i encourange and stretch her without it becoming a chore and being all pushy about it??

[BlueberryPancake]

So she knows her alphabet without you having repeated it to her? Wow, she's a genious! Please at least be honest, you did teach her the alphabet. They don't just learn that stuff on their own. Just to reassure you I know quite a few toddlers (mostly girls) that age who speak full sentences, who can count, and say things like 'look mummy, a helicopter' or 'Mind your head' or 'hold on tight' or 'can I have dummy please' that kind of thing. My son, whose language is not that great at 22 months old, said to me yesterday: 'mummy look sun! Moon gone night night!'

Most children that age, even the less 'bright' ones i.e. who don't speak so well, get bored easily. It's common. Just try toys that encourage role play, like tea sets,and play with her and have teddy tea parties. Or toys that encourage motor skills, like megablocks, crayons, that kind of thing, normal play stuff. Are there playgroups in your area? We have quite a few, at local churches and at the library, it's great fun for them.

[belgo]

I think she's saying that the childminder is teaching her counting and the alphabet.

[mummymagic]

Well done your dd!!

IMO very bright children do not need constant stimulation or they will get 'bored easily'. Very bright children are more able to concoct games and entertainment in their heads, eg find something to do with a piece of paper and a toilet roll, or sit in a boring lesson and play a word game while the teacher babbles on.

Enjoy her and have fun being silly with her and encouraging her learning through play . Let her play around the house (with all sorts of objects - my dd's fave are a big box of cotton buds at the mo) and do things with you. Children ARE amazing - brag away

[BlueberryPancake]

The parent or childminder, that's not my point. A child will not just learn the alphabet and numbers on her/his own if it's not repeated/sang/taught/etc.

And most parents, good childminders and nurseries will repeat the alphabet and the numbers, that's great! And children will learn to count, some earlier than others, that's normal too. 'Learn through play' is the point I'm trying to make, instead of believing that your child is gifted and falling in the trap of being pushy. Just honest, simple, fun play, none of those hidden learning through play!

In relations to that, (not totally relevant but interesting) there was a very good article in the Observer yesterday about the Body of Head teachers stating that children aged five are too young to start formal schooling and should be taught through play until they are at least six.

[BlueberryPancake]

Oups just read my reply again and did cut and paste and it's not really what I meant to say! I wanted to write Just honest, simple, fun play, AND learning through play!

[funnypeculiar]

ds knew his alphabet by that age, and both dd & ds started talking in sentances (ie 2/3 words together) at around 18mths. dd is now 19 mths and counts (slightly eratically!) to 10. Sometimes. I don't think it's that unusual if they are exposed to this sort of info. Learning 1/2 words a day is also fairly normal at this age, I think.

That's not meant to say your dd isn't bright - she may well be. But kids of this age are absolute spongues - they do just soak up whatever's around them. Which is fab

I'd just carry on doing what you're doing - lots of play, outdoors time, messy play etc. Talk to her about anything and everything - explain things as you do them, even if you think she may not understand - just let her be explosed to lots of different types of stimulation, rather than 'teacheing' per se.

[shoptilidrop]

no, i havent taught her, it must be from the childminder and the other ( older ) children she plays with.

i have never made the observation that she is ' bright' this is just something that is said to me quite a lot, from peers, hv, doctor, nursery and the cm. If it comes from family i dont count it! lol!!

the reason i wanted advice was becuase i dont want to be all structured and pushy about it all. i would rather she leanrt through play as she has done so far. In any case i work 4 full days a week, and do not have time do be doing loads.And i certinaly dont want to be doing flashcards etc... ( no offence to those who do)

But i also dont want to do her an injustice by not doing anything...

does that make sense?

[Hulababy]

Is DD actually counting or just reciting numbers, like she would a song?


DD spoke very well very early. Her first 2-3 word sentences were at 12 months, by 18 months she was speaking in sentences properly and could have mini conversions. She was very interested in letters, knew alphabet via the song, knew counting to 20 as we used to count the steps as we went up the stairs when lift was out of order, etc. She loved books, loved craft, loved toys, the lot. Was very cuios and inquisitive, just like a little girl should be

But DD is not G&T or anything. Just good at talking! Yes, she is bright and alert and now at 5, in Y1 she is in top quarter of class - but definitely NOT G&T. Just normal and a bit above avergae in her class.

As for encouraging her - I didn't do anything extra. DD had access to books, pens, paper, activity books, etc. as well as all her normal toys and games. We read daily. We talked constantly. Her nursery was a non pushy, just let them play type. I didn't teach reading or anything. Just let her have fun and let her having access to stuff.

[shoptilidrop]

hulababy.

thats what we have been doing.
i think the childminder counts a lot, and it must be the same with the alaphabet. i was wondering if it was just learnt parrott fashion, but after doing some counting together it seems maybe not.

I certainly dont think she she going to be enistein! lol!! but just wanted to know how to challenge her without it becoming a thing IYKWIM.

i was bright, ( must have lost brain cells as i got older!!) and was moved up a year when i was at school. which i dont think was actually a good thing. It was made into a big deal and i got pushed into all sorts of things i didnt want to do because of it.

i think we shall just carry on as wel are then.

[Hulababy]

I would Just follow he rlead. Let her chose what things she wants to do and play with at home. And just play along and encourage her that way.

If she is really bright, she will learn anyway - and you will see it happening.

[BlueberryPancake]

We have a good book called 'games to play with toddlers'. Some of the games are not so good, but others have inspired us to create some fun games. Your DD might be a bit old for it though... I think that creative play is the best, when you sit down with her and a tea set (or cars, or trucks, or whatever) and you create caracters doing some actions, and the reaction of other 'actors' in your game. They learn so much that way.

[shoptilidrop]

thats a good idea.
i know she plays tea sets at the childminders.
she also loves dressing up and having a bag and purse.
kitchens she loves and shopping toys as well.

cars and trains and trucks she also loves, and we talk about them and do noises etc.

so just doing this sort of thing is enough then?

well i shall rest easy and not think im a crap parent for not doing more educational stuff with her then! lol!

[BlueberryPancake]

I try to 'run a narrative' when playing with ds, if that makes sence. Even when watching telly I talk to him, asking him what his favorite character is, if he can see a car, what color it is, etc. Same when we go out, I always ask what he sees. When he is bored with me talking he says NO,or sometimes he says silly mummy, which is really cute! BTW i think flashcards are great! I scatter them around the room and we go looking hunting for the lion, we go fishing for the fish, we spot the car, ... He loves it!

[HonoriaGlossop]

I agree with Hula's sensible advice. And yes, rest assured you are doing enough! I agree that the being bored easily is a sign of being 20 months old not of anything else You can encourage and stretch her just by talking to her alot and introducing her to new people and places, and listening to her is so important. And sending her to the CM, who is obviously great!

Just enjoy her and the rest will follow. As Hula says early talkers and learners often translate in to average/high average, sometimes (like my ds) you discover there are things possibly holding them back -ds being assessed for dyspraxia, which explains his lack of output at school; his understanding has stayed high, his verbal skills and reasoning are brill, but when it comes to putting stuff on paper - no!

Hopefully it will be smoother than that for your dd. She's getting a great start, anyway

[shoptilidrop]

thanks very much.
that is great advice.

sorry your son has dispraxia. i actually worked as a learning assistant for adults that have dispraxia. there are lots of things you can do to help and that will pretty much sort it out. but im sure you know that already.

i shall not worry then, its hard this parenting stuff itsnt it! you dont want to do too little, and also do want to do too much! lol

[HonoriaGlossop]

oh thanks shop

i think ds may have it quite mildly; and I know some people almost lose symptoms of it as they mature, so fingers crossed.

I think your dd sounds lovely, hope you continue to have fun with her!

[shoptilidrop]

yep lots do, im sure there were a lot of coordination exercises that helped, and omega 3 oils as well ( this was for adults )
but i guess you know all this anyway.

and thanks again