16 month old talks in sentences, counts and picks out words in stories

[Ophuchi]

Hello. I'm new here and wondered if other mums have had children who have developed these skills so young. My 16 month old daughter talks very clearly in short sentences, can count and knows how many objects - not just saying numbers. She also started pointing at words in stories and telling me what they said at 14 months.

I only know 4 other mums with kids the same age, all of whom are non-verbal or only saying a couple of words and just want to know if my little one is within the normal range of development. One of the other mothers I mentioned thinks there might be something 'wrong' with my daughter. In my heart I feel she is 'normal' just quick mentally.

She also crawled at 14 months and walked at 16 months so not quick at everything whereas the other 16 month olds we know were all early walkers.

Also wondering whether me being at home with her all day one-to-one has an effect. Other 4 mums all work full time, kids in nursery.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Ophuchi]

In the back of my mind I just kind of picked up on unusually early development signifying later problems from stuff on tv etc...

[Ophuchi]

Thanks happy, that's good to know

[Ophuchi]

Well, that's why I was asking really. Maybe just not thinking too clearly at the moment as have just had a miscarraige, hormones all over the place.

[Octaviapink]

How is she with puzzles and spatial orientation? Can she build towers out of blocks? I only ask because usually if a child has focussed on one set of skills their others can be lacking. She sounds lovely but you need to make sure that she doesn't just focus on the alphanumeric stuff. When she's older the ability to park the car will be of more value than knowing the alphabet!

[Mavend]

Aww.She sounds bright.Enjoy her for who she is.Doesn't sound like anything to worry about,certainly.FWIW I have 2 dcs,one who is fairly bright,though no genius:),and one with severe learning disability.I love them both to death!If it is your first post you may find some replies slightly cutting on here!Welcome to Mumsnet:)

[Ophuchi]

Octavia - Yes, she can build towers, can do 12 piece peg puzzles and simple jig saws. Her mum on the other hand is crap at parking!

[msbuggywinkle]

DD1 was very verbally advanced, but didn't walk until she was 18mths and couldn't jump until she was 3 and a half.

She's just turned 5 and is good at computers, but 'behind' for her age at drawing.

Point being, they're all different and good at different things.

[Ophuchi]

Thank you DandyLioness. This is the second baby I've lost but it doesn't get any easier. I just like to focus on the child I have :)

[Ophuchi]

Thank you mavend and mrs buggy

[Ophuchi]

Away to put the little monster to bed :)

[OriginalPoster]

  DandyLioness
But what I don't get, is why on earth talking so well and 'reading' early could imply something to worry about? What sort of condition were you thinking of?

There is a condition called hyperlexia which has links to some ASDs. It means reading early and well but with relatively poor understanding.

But from this description there is no suggestion her dd has hyperlexia. But it is an example of where doing something early is an indicator to screen for any other difficulties, which may need support.

[pranma]

My dd was reading words/picking out letters at around 18 months.By 2ish you could read very simple books and pick out many words.The first 'proper' book she read was 'The Railway Children'-she was 5.But....she is no genius and by the age of 11 was in the top quarter of an average primary class.She got 10 A-C GCSE's but only 4 were A's.She got 4 A levels-2A's.She got a 2:1 degree in Philosophy from a redbrick university and then a PGCSE.She will be 37 next week-a mum of 2;teaching part-time and with a contented life.I am proud of her.She is not outstandingly academic-many who didnt read till they started school went to Oxbridge,took starred firsts and did Phd's.Truly very precocious reading just means that that part of her 'swichboard' was connected early other parts late.By 11 she will be just the same as many bright little girls.

[pranma]

missed the 't' out of switchboard

[sungirltan]

op- my dd was the last to walk by months (she was 18 months when she walked) when the others started at 9 months. however dd talked months before and is very advanced in comparisom to her 4 pals. it has got to the point where i find it embarrasing that she has about 350 words/counting/colours and heaps of sentances BUT i am noticing how the others are slowly catching up - i reckon by the time they are all 2 that they will be much the same.

i do think there is something in the either talk or walk theory though.

[PlentyOfPubgardens]

so ... is it pronounced 'Oh Fucky'?

DP was telling me his theory last night that Star Wars was all based on porn, so you have Obi Wanky Knobby, Princess Lay Her, Hand Solo ...

Your DD sounds lovely

[WriterofDreams]

Ha Opuchi, can I just say I am very impressed with the way you took the negative replies on this thread. I think MN is going to suit you! Often, talking about how well your children are doing or any mention of the whole WOHM/SAHM thing earns you a lot of mockery and derision (as you learned on this thread). Good for you for not retaliating or taking it personally.

I can understand your worry but chances are your friend said what she did out of jealousy. The older DD gets the more you'll find others try to play down her achievements, it's a culture thing. Don't worry about anything being wrong with her. You're right that pockets of unusual development can indicate certain disorders but it's very unlikely, so just enjoy your chatty DD.

Very sorry to hear about your miscarriages BTW. It's a horrible thing to have to deal with. Hope you're getting plenty of support and that you're looking after yourself.

[reallytired]

Ophuchi,

I take it your child is a precious first born. (pfb)

When you have your second you realise how little enviroment makes to your child in the early years. My ds was developmentally delayed and under the local child development centre for five years. At nine years old he is on the top table for every subject. It shows that the ablity to walk or speak in sentences or do jigsaws at 16 months means very little.

DD development is very advanced. We have seen the health visitor quite a bit over the last years as DD weight fell from the 50th centile to the 0.4th. Our health visitor was not in the least bit interested in advanced development. I am just relieved DD is actually growing.

DD could speak in sentences, walk, use the potty, draw and do jigsaws at the same age as the OP. She has been parented in the same way as my slower developing son. We have had looks when we are out with DD who is tiny speaks fluently.

Development is a journey. Many children catch up later.

[Ophuchi]

Thanks for all your replies. I believe it's pronounced oh-foo-chee but oh-fucky's fine by me. I was a wee bit upset when putting little one to bed, hormones getting the better of me and she said 'don't cry, Mummy' and gave me a kiss. Poor little thing's got more sense than her daft mum has!

I don't know why anyone would be jealous, surely every child is just as special to their mum regardless of what they do or say.

[bandgeek]

Both my DC were talking in sentences by the time they were 16 months, and I can remember DS could count to 20 when he was 18months old (he used to count whilst climbing the stairs). I can't remeber how old DD was when she could count, but when she started nursery just after her 2nd birthday, all the nursery workers used to comment on her speech as she was so fluent! She used to tell them all my secrets

They are now 5 and 6, and while I would say they are bright they are nowhere near genius level. Thank God!

[ThePosieParker]

DS2 was speaking in 4/5 word sentences at 13 months, first words at 8 months. He would say hello pretty lady to shop assistants. He couldn't read though, but would count uip the stairs, I assumed this is because we did it every night. He's eight, great at Maths but not gifted by any stretch!! In fact dd1 who talked much later was much better linguistically by four.

Are you thiknking 'spectrum' OP?

[Ophuchi]

Sorry Posie, not sure what 'spectrum' means. I think after all the replies that I'll stay with my gut instinct which is that she's developed early and this will level out to normal. Thanks for all the replies from those who have similar children, very reassuring.

[Ophuchi]

Special thanks to writerofdreams. My husband is away just now but will be back at the end of the week. I'm just getting on with things and waiting for the next egg :)

[youarekidding]

TBH the whole someone said there may be something 'wrong' with DD as the reason for the post. Ophuchi has admitted its her first and she doesn't know. As a LP with one child I can assure you I use to listen to the mums on their 4/5th child as I felt they had all the knowledge.

I have ophuci ime as a nursery nurse noticed a very slight correlation between the sendentary children (like your DD who crawl/walk later) tend to have better spoken skills, more interest in books etc whereas the active children (like my DS who walked at 10 months and never stayed still) tend to have stronger social skills. This is purely anecdote though and very close also to the tsereotypical boy/girl generalisations that are banded about.

She sounds advanced in her language skills, the thing to watch is that a) it doesn't encourage you to talk to her/ let her watch things to 'old' for her as her emotional maturity may not be advanced and b) I'm not sure how much the reading/ speaking early will make a difference. My mum says I could spell, including the word magnet at 3yo - I'm dyslexic.