Would you expect a 2.5 year old to put 3 letter words in the right order ?

[mermait]

I'm not saying my son is a genius or anything but I am noticing some differences between him and my older DD.

He just seems really switched on in a way she wasn't / isn't. He notices a lot of things and he is able to speak in quite long/ complex sentences. Also you can have a proper back and forth dialogue with him. I know that's not unusual for his age.

Today I noticed he was playing a game and able to put three letter words in the correct order.

He just seems really aware of things. I bought a globe maybe 3 moths ago and I must have showed them both where the UK is and explained that's where we live. I randomly picked it up and asked him where he lives and he pointed at the UK. Maybe someone else showed him a few more times or something and I didn't realise but my 4 and a half year old didn't know, although I've showed her quite a few times.

His behaviour is pretty ' bad ' in terms of tantrums and I'm getting reports from nursery that he can be quite a handful. But at the same time he is pretty clever. I want to channel his energy in the right way. Maybe he's bored out of his mind or something and that's why he's testing boundaries ?

Anyone know a child like this ? He's probably not even that clever, it's just that my DD wasn't and isn't like him at all. She's doing well at school though ( reception, so early days ) but she's started reading so I think she's on track.

He recognises roads, car brands and just generally always noticing things and pointing them out. My DD just didn't / doesn't care about things like that.

However I think he is as bright as his sister even if he doesn't speak much!

Absolutely! My daughter is also very clever!

It sucks right?

My 3 year old DS is like this. His brothers are 14 & 8. I can’t remember them being as switch on at 3 & sometimes he does leave me stunned, however, he is a handful in the behaviour department. He’s awaiting an ADHD assessment that his nursery suggested.

I will try and have a think about other games we had.

We kept waiting for it all to average out, and it just never has, he has remained above average and has definitely overtaken us as adults, in maths especially and his father is a science teacher. It is quite hard really, to have a child who is still quite young that you know is more intelligent than you. I always wonder why parents push for these very clever children unless it’s for bragging rights, it’s no easier in any way.

My second has quite severe learning delay and my third is not academic but massively creative. They really are just their owns selves and that’s the part you have to nurture.

Also he didn’t speak till very late either, so don’t panic about that, they do still take it all in. He is not ASD, just a know it all.

I'd be really interested to see research done on whether these skills are developing earlier in humans than generations past, as anecdotally, it seems that they are!
It's very interesting and thrilling to see little humans spontaneously develop reading skills, especially as in the past, far fewer people could read at all. (I have ancestors a few generations back who signed their wedding certificates with crosses.)
All the children of the youngest generation in my family are all early, self-taught readers who showed varying levels of early interest in letters and numbers from toddlerhood.

I think there's a huge range when it comes to literacy. Both your kids are normal. Keep reading to your son. If you can, put your finger under the words as you read. My daughter learned to read spontaneously just by me doing this.

Imagine he was your only child. You wouldn't be worrying. Comparing to siblings is pretty pointless although it's tempting to do it!

I'm not worried

Sounds very similar to my DS who's now in reception and has been flagged as potentially having ADHD (that being said, he's very happy and settled in school)

OP investigate Hyperlexia, it may be of interest.

Just to add, DS had those foam letters that go in the bath at that age and absolutely loved them!

Ds2 was 2yo while ds1 was in reception and learning how to read and the house was awash with read, write Inc cards and books. He had CVC words down at the same time. He's almost 16 now, doing his GCSEs. He's smart and will get great grades, like his brother did who learnt how to read when he was four.

It's the same in our house. I have so much material for my 4 year old who is learning to read. He doesn't really participate as he doesn't have the patience but he sees us using phonics cards and my 4 year old is CONSTANTLY sounding out words, even when she's just watching TV. He hears her doing that.

P E T - P E T - PET- if you know you know 😂

Yes and I've often felt sorry for myself but I've also worried if I had a massive ego problem too. Why did i expect my life to be above average? Average is fine. My parents talked me up so much telling me how clever, bright, pretty, interesting I was. It was all very well meaning but left me terribly self critical with ridiculous expectations.

@Dontlletmedownbruce you sound just like me ! Extremely self critical.

I bet your life isn't actually average at all and you've done very well but it's just never enough!

DD was like this, only child so lots of attention and engagement. Always top of the class, predicted all 9s at GCSE. Never tantrummed is Twice Exception - Autism and Highly Gifted (Assessed as via WISC not bragging).

It isn't linear though, she struggles with basic arithmetic maths and still uses fingers for multiplication as struggles with processing and working memory. Can do extremely complicated Maths on paper though and intends to take Maths and FM at A Level. Im not convinced she can reliably tell the time on an analogue or in 24 (military) mode.

Hates reading fiction, loves English as a tool loves poetry and playscripts, satirical shows, Shakespeare. Barely ever reads novels.

Following instructions - needs to be WhatsApp'd a list as she'll forget the first two by the time I've got to the third one in a verbal list.

Talented technically at most things and just picks them up. Terrible at anything that requires freestyle / using imagination so painting or writing in creative writing is a weakness but copying someone else's is fantastic.

She enjoys word games and logic puzzles. Think Fun do lots of great toys and board games for a range of ages knowing Amazon.

Depends on the word

If it's words he sees often i.e. the, and, then it's perhaps not that surprising.

If he's putting together words he's heard, but not seen written down, then that's more surprising

My dc2 (nearly 4) is similar in terms of being very switched on and observant, though she doesn’t have tantrums. We often joke that she is like Perfect Peter from Horrid Henry because she is always angelically behaved.

Like your DS she was interested in letters and numbers from a young age and is reading well now. Since she was tiny she has loved matching games like jigsaws, dominos, spot the difference, those matching pair games etc - I think she is very visual and mathematical. She’s also incredibly neat and careful with everything she does. I think part of it is personality and part is being second born and watching and learning from dc1 - both what to do and what not to do.

DC1 on the other hand is a whirlwind! He is much more imaginative, in his own head more than spotting stuff in the environment. He’s messy, adventurous, hilarious. Much more defiant and boundary pushing than her, but he has so much spark and charisma.

Fwiw both are NT and I think of equal intelligence. I don’t think you need to do anything special with your DC2 - just follow his interests and encourage them.

I taught both my DC to read before starting school and it’s been a lovely thing to do together and given them a great headstart.

@LifeD1lemma you really can't declare that both are NT, they may well be but most children with low support needs aren't diagnosed until the teen years and many are quirky at a younger age - like never having tantrums and following all the rules but cope just fine up until the start of Secondary school.

This /precocious reader...it can be a sign of adhd...but all may be fine..as someone said child develoment is not linear.

My two are miles apart in terms of academic abilities. My son is very clever but can’t be arsed and my daughter is not academically able at all but she’s very emotionally intelligent and puts her all into everything she does.

Sounds like my older DS (who has ASD). While he's brighter than others, he does struggle in other ways. My younger DS is the opposite but then has his own areas that he's stronger in.

I can absolutely declare that they are both NT because (a) I understand the diagnostic criteria and (b) I know my children, neither of whom are “quirky”.

Have you thought about pencil and paper? My son loved to draw at that age and did write words spelled phonetically.