How to stimulate a ' clever ' 2 and a half year old that seems to act up when bored

[damdams]

What kind of things can I / nursery do to stimulate a bored child more ?

Far too young to say adhd not active toddler.

OP your post rubbed people the wrong way. You aren’t allowed to say your child is bright

Jigsaws. Memory games. Drawing letters, learning numbers. Audio books. Seasame street (old school DVDs) were good. Lots and lots of language.

Wow, trigger warning, you've really riled some people up.

I have a child like this, he's 7, averagely bright but basically easily bored (unless hyperfocused on something) and starts to act a fool when he's not occupied with things. A bit aggy, really. I expect like me he has some ADD tendencies. Try and dig a little more and see what behaviour he's displaying that they are interpreting as bored.

Try things that actively encourage sitting and concentrating. Perhaps The Times crossword puzzle (save the cryptic ones until she turns three), or perhaps some quantum physics equations if want to get somewhat challenging.

Honestly, at 2.5 children just need motivating tasks. Boredom at this age is far more likely due to under stimulation rather than how clever a child is - sounds like she needs to be challenged by an activity she isn’t used to (if that makes sense).

Move her to a preschool with more structured learninf. They can often start in the term they turn three. Mine started at 2y9 months and started learning letters and numbers and it was much more structured. It wasn't what I expected to choose for my child, but it was what suited them. They were much happier there than at nursery.

Sorry, she, not he - I'm obviously projecting!!

If he's interested, start on letter sounds and maths. Ensure he understands that numbers mean 'numbers of things' and start from there. Count to 10 and number bonds to 10 - use bricks or pasta or something to count with. Then 100 and understand place value. My bright DS2 was ready for this stuff early - when he started school he knew all his number bonds & various basic maths concepts. He knew what squaring and cubing meant etc. (He's top of secondary now and still intelligent, but he's not Einstein - he was just ready and interested early). Plenty of kids are ready for reading by 4, even if the majority are older.

I work in a nursery. Have had some bright children but at 2 they are not going to be that bright that you can’t keep them occupied. A 2 year old is a 2 year old 👀 is it a private nursery? What behaviour is she showing that makes them think she’s bored? I could understand if September birthday 4 year old….

Yes, mine was far happier at school. Some kids don't love being little kids. My other two seem to relish it!

I am moving her to a school nursery as from experience, you're absolutely right- it's more structured. But have a few months to go yet !

Do you see the same behaviour at home as they do at nursery @damdams ?

Why don’t you start teaching her these things at home in the interim? If she’s bright and interested she will pick them up quickly.

That’s just dismissing contributions. It may well be too early to say adhd, I’m not sure about that; but it’s definitely true that bright children usually get engrossed in tasks - not always the one on offer but they tend to seek out their own.

Id suggest duplo or train tracks as above op - something that takes a bit of construction and fitting together/ planning ahead.

ETA @ adhd doesn’t mean they aren’t bright, but it might explain the getting bored.

Precious first born vibes.

Can we substitute the geometry for Fuzzy Felt? Asking for a friend.

Yes!

What is she doing which makes them
think she is bored? You asked for ideas at home, is she bored at home too?

@goodkidsmaadhouse I'm not moving her to a school nursery for phonics and maths etc. there's just more structure at the school nursery.

I don't see why I should start teaching her that kind of stuff so early. She's got plenty of time. The school nursery she'll go to is just more structured in activities and they do Forrest school and that kind of thing- they do plays and dances etc. she'll start phonics there in the January in the year shell go to school- by which time she will be over 3 and a half.

But she's my second born !

My DGD loved playing "work" in an old fashioned briefcase I set up an office with pens, paper envelopes, stamps, play mobile phone, headset, laptop etc. She still love it at 6 and is very bright. Also shops, play till, money , credit cards. Hairdressers with dolls. She is very good at playing alone but wants Grannie to be her assistant in most games!

What does she do at nursery ? Mess around, doesn't listen sometimes, pushes in front of other children, snatches. Some days are worse than others. At home, she annoys her older sister when she's bored. She pretends to be a monster and chases her around ( which older sister doesn't like ) but younger sister finds it hilarious. That kind of stuff.

😂

I used to do this in my grandfathers study. Think I was about 9 or 10!

I teach my DD phonics and she's about to turn two. She also loves counting to 20 and I've encouraged her to sit and count things and add things together

If she's bored/intelligent couldn't they start doing that? It's never to early

If the nursery can't stimulate and provide enough for little one to be busy I'd say thats a red flag and think about moving her elsewhere. I'm all for children learning to be bored and making their own fun but at 2?! Seems a little young to be "bored"

I honestly think this sounds something other than just intelligence op. That’s NOT to say she isn’t ALSO intelligent and NOT as one pp tried to imply because we all think you are pompous and need bringing down; but rather I think it might be worth looking wider to address it.