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AIBU?

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Original poster

She seems older for her age

343 replies

Justsawagecko · 23/06/2021 20:22

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?

OP posts:
MarkRuffaloCrumble · 23/06/2021 20:42

All of my kids have been like this - exceptionally bright with large vocabulary of sophisticated words. They’ve all gone on to do very well in GCSEs and hopefully life in general so it’s definitely not something to worry about. DS1 is most likely autistic although not diagnosed, which is very helpful in his current role, which involves learning lots of small details about specific vehicles - he’s in his element Grin

DS2’s GCSE English teacher told me she’d done an advanced A level course to make sure she was up to the job of teaching him, as he’s better than she is at English Grin

It’s a blessing to have such impressive DCs and I honestly haven’t done anything to make them this way other than talk to them a lot and let them find their own way. I’m wasn’t even very good at reading to/with them when they were little so I don’t know where they get it from.

GertietheGherkin · 23/06/2021 20:42

It's a shame some have seen fit to trivialise a simple request for clarifying a milestone.

OP your LO will be just fine, if they are around adults a lot they will develop their speech and vocabulary very early. Our first son was incredibly articulate from around 2... He's done just fine in life. All of our children have ( we have more than the average number 😃)
Just enjoy your LO and don't worry it'll be fine

GreenCrayon · 23/06/2021 20:43

She sounds like a perfectly normal 3 year old to be honest.

It's also totally normal for an only child to favour adult company and be confident to talk to adults.

SaltAndVinegarSandwiches · 23/06/2021 20:44

Totally normal. My eldest was the same, very articulate from an early age. My DD was less good at language. Ironically DS is brilliant at maths and OK at English DD is the other way round. Neither are on the spectrum. I do know other children who were very precocious with language and have susbsequently been diagnosed with ASD but unless there are other red flags it's nothing to worry about.

azimuth299 · 23/06/2021 20:44

What concerns you about it? There is a time around when they turn 3 when they go from toddlers to being little children and it does seem strange when it happens. She's just growing up though. Or is there something about her behaviour that worries you?

shouldistop · 23/06/2021 20:45

Do children her own age seem to like her?

baldafrique · 23/06/2021 20:47

Oh are you worried about ASD?

azimuth299 · 23/06/2021 20:48

This is my favourite thing that I have ever read on Mumsnet, and I've been here for years! Grin

DS2’s GCSE English teacher told me she’d done an advanced A level course to make sure she was up to the job of teaching him, as he’s better than she is at English

Wimpund21 · 23/06/2021 20:49

All of my 3 had excellent vocab from age 2/3 +. They all used long, 'adult' words in context.

Ds1 especially was like a little old man. I have a video of him at just turned 3 on the beach, looking at the horizon and letting out a huge contented sigh before saying 'just look at that wonderful view. It's truly marvellous'. I've met 50 year olds with less maturity than he had then 😂

Anyway...if your thinly veiled brag is suggesting that you think your dc is going to be some kind of tortured genius, fear not. My 3 are all bright but not gifted. A good vocab at 3 is no indication of giftedness so there's nothing to be concerned about.

Original poster
Justsawagecko · 23/06/2021 20:50

@HollyGarland I really don’t know? 🤷🏻‍♀️I just see something different I suppose. She’s also very hyper at times and can’t switch off. She’s like this even more when tired etc, which I know is pretty usual for an overtired toddler, but combined with little things I notice.
For example, she was a little kids fun disco thing at the weekend-toddlers to maybe 5/6 year olds. They were all standing, watching and copying the movements of the kids animators. She was the most excited there, which is great and she was able to copy some movements, but then she'd dance a tiny bit, then run over to us, dance a tiny bit again and run over to us..all quite usual, but just the way she repeated this over and over again. None of the other children did this, maybe I’m worrying over nothing, but I’m starting to piece together some behaviour

OP posts:
RandomMess · 23/06/2021 20:50

My eldest was like this and often seemed so much older than she was especially as she was tiny in size.

Yes she's academic and her written English always been superb and is doing a masters and loves debating. Not a genius though!

Mymapuddlington · 23/06/2021 20:51

Sounds very worrying, maybe she’s autistic. Have nursery expressed concerns?

ChaToilLeam · 23/06/2021 20:51

Don’t worry. I was that kid, clever but not genius. Just good with words, an early speaker and reader. I ended up good at languages and am a bit geeky about some stuff. Just let her do kid things, encourage her talents but don’t hothouse. There are things she will be great at and things she struggles with like every child.

BanginChoons · 23/06/2021 20:51

My dc10 speaks a little like an encyclopaedia, among many other traits. He is amazing and is being assessed for asd.

Your dc is very young, and will be who they will be.

baldafrique · 23/06/2021 20:53

@Mymapuddlington
It actually sounds worrying?!

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 23/06/2021 20:53

DS2’s GCSE English teacher told me she’d done an advanced A level course to make sure she was up to the job of teaching him, as he’s better than she is at English 

😂😂😂😂 ok

Tal45 · 23/06/2021 20:53

I immediately thought you were hinting at aspergers, my son was the same with speech - he still loves long words as a teen and also makes up his own by combining words (diagnosed just before secondary school). Preferring adults is common with children with aspergers as adults are much more predictable than other children are. It could be something it could be nothing, I would just wait and see for now as there's not really much else you can do, keep a note of any odd or unusual behaviour so you build up a picture if you ever do go for assessment.

Original poster
Justsawagecko · 23/06/2021 20:53

@Wimpund21 It’s not a ‘Thinly veiled brag’
Do you have to be so unkind? Wasn’t meant with that intention whatsoever, I’m worried, I’m a worrier.

OP posts:
HopeValley · 23/06/2021 20:54

Children use the words they are exposed to - it's why they have no issues using phrases like 'split digraph' when they learn phonics, yet adults act like this is incredible. They don't know what's a 'fancy' word and what's not. If you're articulate and read to your child it's not surprising they will speak well. I agree with a couple of PPs that the words you gave as examples aren't particularly unusual - indicative of a bright child perhaps, but not a particularly unusual one. My child is still a few months off 3 and uses those sorts or words, as do some of her peers. Others are not so articulate. But as a teacher you surely know all of this...

Original poster
Justsawagecko · 23/06/2021 20:54

@shouldistop They seem to, yes 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
thesunwillout · 23/06/2021 20:54

Sounds very like my daughter, who was so quick to speak, read and her vocabulary was crazy.

Very slow to crawl and walk. I was told they are often one or the other.

Mine was also very sensitive to sounds etc.
Not sure if she's in any way different, but she's probably got some slightly different norms.

I don't know the names, but from reading and looking into a few things she could be, but she's doing great!

Studying an English literature degree now lol.

LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus · 23/06/2021 20:55

Apparent maturity at a young age can be a sign of ASD. I thought this about my son when he was young. He was diagnosed as autistic as a teenager and someone explained that his apparent maturity was actually a developmental problem where he couldn't communicate with his peers so well. It makes sense now! He is fine though so I don't say this to worry you, and it may be irrelevant anyway!

Dogoodfeelgood · 23/06/2021 20:55

I think also potentially related to being an only, lots more adult company - I was an only myself, had excellent vocab and topped all reading charts at a young age and definitely recall enjoying adult company rather than other kids. I am neurotypical and turned out fine. Could probably have done better academically but was too busy being social with other teenagers in the end so it didn’t turn out to give academic benefits when it actually mattered at uni! So I wouldn’t worry, she just sounds like a clever only child with loving parents to me x

Comedycook · 23/06/2021 20:55

she often appears bored with toddler friends of the same age (prefers playing with older girls

I think this is quite normal. Older children tend to give them more attention and interact more...whereas two toddlers together tend to play alongside each other rather than with each other.

Pieceofpurplesky · 23/06/2021 20:55

My DS was like this. He's 17 and has an amazing vocabulary. He'll be a brilliant politician one day!