She seems older for her age

[Justsawagecko]

My toddler Dd. She’s almost 3 but has crazy vocabulary..using words like ‘Absolutely’ ‘Broadcasting’ ‘Besides’ etc. She hears something and it just seems to stick in her mind, she knows what it means too. Ever since she was around 1.5, her language just took off and we’ve had normal conversations ever since. She crawled & walked fairly late, but just seems so attuned to things and like an older child in a toddlers body in many ways. It worries me for the future, is this normal?

[SingingInTheShithouse]

Yeah it can be normal for some, it was for my DD too & younger, but they do tend to level out & the gap closes a lot in later years

[ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

A thinly veiled brag post if ever ive seen one.

Not particularly as seemingly only one mothe tongue language and not advanced polyglot!

[Nat6999]

Ds was exactly like that, an old head on young shoulders, still is age 17. Was sat watching Time Team age less than 2 & came out with "that lady is a geophysicist" He always used words in the correct context, had a vocabulary that any child age 5 or 6 would have been proud of by 18 months, only babbled for a couple of months, then went quiet for a month & then came out speaking full sentences. He could read simple books by 3 & was moaning Biff & Chip books were boring by his second week at school. He refused to take any part in phonics at school because he said he didn't read like that, he only needed to see a word once & be told what it was & his photographic memory did the rest. Teachers at school branded him a problem child because he could run rings around the other children where anything to do with words were concerned & he spent lessons moaning he was bored, I spent all his first three years at primary forging his reading diary & giving him something else to read. It took a teacher in Y3 to realise that he could read beyond his years, abandon the school reading plan & allow him to bring in his own books that he had chosen. He is now studying A level English Language along with Geography & Sociology, he is still old beyond his years, he is a very active member of the Green Party & works with local Green councillors on their transport committee, he has already seen one of his ideas being adopted to provide a free bus service in the city centre to transport visitors around to reduce traffic & increase footfall for retail, hospitality & entertainment businesses within the city centre. He is hoping to go to university to study politics, not bad for a child who is autistic & was branded unteachable when he started school.

[Nat6999]

Ds loathed other children, at preschool he spent all outdoor playtime chatting to old ladies who walked past through the railings. He could name every bus route in the City, collected bus timetables, knew which buses he had travelled on before by their reg numbers. For all he is bright, his handwriting is worse than a 5 year old due to hypotonia. We didn't get a diagnosis until he was 9 & wouldn't have ever had one unless I pushed for it, nobody ever suggested he could be autistic.

[Whydidimarrythisfamily]

Old soul new body x

[PommieCheeks75]

My DD was the same, she could read/ recognise flash cards at 2.5 no one believed me (this was the 90’s)
Didn’t walk until she was 16 months though.

[Bangolads]

Pk maybe she’s a gifted child or perhaps on the spectrum or both. She obviously doesn’t need support for milestones she hasn’t met so what’s the issue?! This is your child, they’re all different and that’s part of the ride. What did you expect her to be like?! Embrace who she is, stop worrying and definitely don’t say this to other parents, it sounds like an brag. And for the record record, at some point we all think our kids are gifted, mostly they just grow up to be lovely and average and often real gifted kids have their own set of struggles.

[Feelinglow8736]

Total humblebrag

[lifeover40]

Check out Potential Plus UK website: //www.potentialplusuk.org

[GlutenFreeGingerCake]

I thought of Autism when you said you had a few worries with the very advanced early language skills and preferring adult company over children. Those can be a part of it so I would be looking at how she is getting on socially as she gets older. Intelligent autistic girls are often able to "mask" very effectively- that is work out how to fit in by copying others even though it doesn't come naturally but they find it mentally exhausting and it can lead to problems like anxiety or lots of meltdowns at home. So that is something to look out for as well.

[Rosewood017]

My 3 year old son is the same. Remembers everything he hears! Don't worry it's quite normal. Their brains are incredible and they're listening even when they seem like they're not. Little boffins.

He asked me to sing Mundian to Bach Ke yesterday - I had to ask Alexa what it was!

[AryaStarkWolf]

My son was like that at that age, he's 17 now and perfectly normal for his age :p

[ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]

@lifeover40

Check out Potential Plus UK website: //www.potentialplusuk.org

Thank you as very kind to share as this looks interesting and helpful. It’s excellent all children dependent on ability have such resources based on ability and intellectual development not artificially limited by age expectations. Every child is different and indeed constantly learn at different rates of progress.

[Bippityboo2]

You think she might be neurodiverse?

If she is, it's not the end of the world. Some kids are just hyper-verbal. If you're concerned speak to your GP or HV.

I have a ND nearly 4yo who lost her language between 15-18m and is only now beginning to gain a little back the referral process was straightforward.

[Moonface123]

My youngest son who is now 16 has always been very articulate from a very young age. I was worried once he started secondary school he would start dumbing down, it didn't happen but l do feel for him sometimes when others feel the need to mimic or question how he talks. He is actually one of the few rare few people l can actually share a deep conversation with, lovely company for me, but it's not always been an easy ride, he has suffered an anxiety disorder, and prefers his own company , or older friends than teens his age.

[Pollypocket89]

Op, she sounds like my sister as a child. She spoke very early and walked later on. I remember her wonderful vocabulary and preference for adult company.. She's just been diagnosed with adhd in her 20s, hyperactive mind, not body. It's completely changed my view considering what I thought it was

[Talkwhilstyouwalk]

@Bippityboo2

You think she might be neurodiverse?

If she is, it's not the end of the world. Some kids are just hyper-verbal. If you're concerned speak to your GP or HV.

I have a ND nearly 4yo who lost her language between 15-18m and is only now beginning to gain a little back the referral process was straightforward.

I doubt she is. Nothing out of the ordinary being able to hold a proper conversation at this age. Yes it's not that common but there are plenty of children who can....she might be an early talker and she might or might not be highly intelligent. Only time will tell.

[Nettie1964]

I talked fluently at 18 months could read by 2 1/2but didn't walk until nearly 2. I am nothing special just a wide vocabulary and dyslexic. 2 d's 1 walked and talked v early also dyslexic and didn't read until 7. Youngest son didn't walk or talk until nearly 2 then just got up and started talking like an old man. All children are different.