AIBU to wonder if my 27 month old is ahead?

[Byron1990]

And if so should I be doing more to support him?
My first child was very behind in every area for years and is now about where he should be. I don’t know if it’s just the contrast or if my 27 month old is very ahead and worried I’m not doing enough to stretch and support him.

He speaks in full sentences with advanced vocabulary but also humour, tonight he said to his dad, ‘what are you wearing daddy, you look diculous (ridiculous)’ he was wearing pjs. He retells stories but put him and his brother in the place of the characters and makes them do funny things. He uses me/my/you/his/I correctly.

he can also catch a tennis ball with two hands and hit one with a racket. He builds houses and castles out of magnatiles and puts animals and figures in them. He can count objects up to 11 and also recognise groups of things by number up to three by looking at them not counting.

Does this sound like he’s far ahead and should I be doing something specific at home/out of home?

There's a big difference in speech development particularly at 24 months, 30 months and 36 months. It's helpful to know where the child is.

@FunnyOrca yes it’s very cute to watch, he can hit it to you as well so over the net and into your hands.
@MeetMeOnTheCorner I did so much of this with my first, mortifying to remember now but I used to spout Wordsworth and Keats while he was on the swings as a baby! I’ve definitely not given as much time to it this time around but will start, thank you

@roshi42 its so lovely isn’t it when they can have full conversations!

He sounds a little ‘advanced’ but the thing is they all develop at different rates so a lot of this will might just even out. Apparently I was speaking full sentences before two and learned to read by myself before school, there’s nothing ‘advanced’ about me now 😆

Ditto my son was obsessed with kicking balls from the time he could toddle, and his motor skills and coordination were ‘advanced’ compared to other kids in his nursery. He could also hit a ball with a cricket bat at your son’s age - several years later the other kids have all caught up!

He sounds much better company than a lot of adults I know.

I don’t really think it means anything to be honest if they are ‘advanced’ at 2. As many catch up at 3/4/5 or take over.
Einstein didn’t speak until he was 4…

It’s the absolute best!! I love asking her questions about her day after nursery, or questions about what she would do if she was Cinderella - what would she wear to the ball? Her answers always surprise me, she comes up with a new word or concept every day! Blows my mind.

I can’t believe he can hit the ball over the net to you with accuracy!! That is definitely impressive - I think tennis lessons would be fantastic. We have a tennis tots weekend class near us that was quite fun.

@roshi42 ahh the nursery chat is my favourite, love getting the little run down of what he eats and what his little friends got up to! The new words also blow my mind when they just seem to come out of nowhere!

He absolutely sounds ahead to me! My third was similar to yours and at 4 I’m proclaiming him a genius (egged on by some nursery workers who tell me he’s way ahead). I’d say my son’s speech would have been behind yours at the same age, but it was still good.

Numbers wise at that age he would have been able to count the objects, subitise up to about 5, and recognise numbers up to 10.

He was and still is hopeless at anything gross motor.

At just turned 4 now he can add and subtract within 10, recognise numbers up to 100, recognise all letters and some digraphs and read simple words, count in 10s and do one more and one less of numbers up to 100.

I have gently encourage him, but I think the main thing is numbers and letters are his interest so he’s just keen to learn. My older two really weren’t interested at the same age.

Same

Sounds like this child is much better with a racket than I’ll ever be

This is adorable and I hope it lasts into the school years

Apparently my DC learn “nothing” and have “can’t remember” for lunch every single day.

Nursery manager of 25 years. They all catch up eventually. He sounds lovely and enjoy him.

Talking can start at all different times it is really weird. One of mine didn't say anything really until aged 3, I was very concerned and took him to the GP. But he's at a very good uni now doing fine and did well at school too, no autism or anything at all to explain starting speaking so late. So yours sounds amazing to me, none of mine were so advanced so young 😃

@MrsKypp i think that’s why it seems so advanced to me, my eldest didn’t speak like this under he was three either so it’s such a shock to me to hear my youngest chatting away!

@PluckedFromThinAir yes my eldest also does nothing at school 😂

He speaks in full sentences

They do say 'no' is a complete sentence.

@Itsmyshadow oh he sounds amazing, I don’t think most of the kids in my five year olds class would be doing that now! Something to aim for 😂

well done.

I think they both sound brilliant. 🤩

I run a playgroup for two years olds, and have four children.

The strongest one academic wise at this point, age 8, never said a word till she was nearly four. Then just spoke normally.

the youngest, just turned 3, rides a pony like way ahead of her siblings, having started years after.

playgroup is the same. You find “their” thing. They thrive.

I have a non verbal just 2 year old who had been using a toilet for a year. Yet chatty near 3 who are nowhere near.

it’s the most exciting and amazing age. The difference is staggering and wonderful.

So just keep loving them and encourage each interest and passion.

😂

Totally agree with this and I love this post 😍 OP both your children sound lovely! Your second definitely sounds bright and very articulate for his age. I’ve not rtft but I’m sure others have pointed out that where they’re at at this age doesn’t necessarily correlate with future achievement - my most academic child couldn’t string a sentence together til he was going on 3. You don’t need to do anything special or specific - just enjoy them, follow their interests, let them be themselves and they’ll do great ❤️

He sounds much better company than a lot of people on this thread

Counting objects accurately to 10 is what a large chunk of reception year is spent doing so this is definitely ahead.

my child is 26 months and only just putting 2/3 words together, I was concerned he was behind but nursery say not. I know there’s at least 2 girls in his room who chat away in sentences but I think they’re ahead.

well then you aren’t paying attention, the average age for being able to reliably catch a tennis ball is 4-5 years.

The thing about age standard expectations is that they tend to take into account the wide variety of exposure kids get to different things.

My son does lots of similar things at the same age. As someone who helped write early years profiles in both England and Wales, the one stand out skill is the tennis ball catching.

Language is a funny thing. My son was quite abrupt in going from lots of single and paired words to full on imaginative sentences and descriptions. But he's able to recall things from months before and describe them - so it was working away in his head all the while.