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]

Thanks Chundle. I did look at the symptoms of hyperlexia today however they don't really tie with DD. She doesn't have trouble understanding speech and certainly has no trouble talking.

She doesn't seem obsessed or fixated with numbers and letters - I haven't actually pointed out individual letters to her as I thought she was too young for that sort or thing. She does however recognise which numbers are which from a talking book she got for her birthday. She just takes a lot of enjoyment out of story times and seems to have memorised the shape of some words. Socially she can be a little shy if she doesn't know someone but I don't think that's anything to worry about.

We're just going to carry on doing what we do and not panic if confronted with the same situation again. It's just not very nice when somebody tells you they think there's something wrong with your child.

[mummy2aisha]

my 23 month says a few words but doesnt put sentences together your 16 month is gifted ingore the mum of five and go and search mensa for gifted children and Im not being flipent dont waste her talent.

[Ophuchi]

Don't worry mummy2aisha, I intend to take a great interest in her education as she learns things at her own pace. I do think she is an early developer and will most likely level out at 5 or 6 as other posters say, however if this is not the case we will access resources for gifted children. We, like every other family, just want to do what's best for our child.

[aquafunf]

OP- my eldest sounds a little like yours- at 18 months she could speak in proper sentences, argue the toss with adults and recognised some words. i didnt realise that this was that early as i didnt know anyone with kids. fast forward 14.5 years and she is still bright but the laziest person i know so will prob end up with average GCSEs.

[Ophuchi]

Thanks aquafunf. Loads of people have posted to say their kids were the same - it's very reassuring from a first time mum's point of view. I don't go to any toddler groups or anything like that so maybe if I did I'd meet a lot more mums with similar children.

[Ophuchi]

Just a little update.

I was visiting my GP today regarding a matter refering to the miscarriage I mentioned earlier and had to take DD along with me as I am on my own here. (Family all live some distance away and friends all at work)

The GP picked up immediately on DD's early speech and understanding. (DD told GP her name and how old she was when asked) I explained about the counting objects and recognising words then expressed my concern about possible autism and/or hyperlexia.

In the GP's opinion DD doesn't appear to be suffering from autism or hyperlexia, however may be a gifted child. I am aware she is most likely at the extreme end of early development and would prefer if this were the case for her sake but we'll have to wait and see.

Thanks to all who took the time to offer advice and share experiences and apologies to those who took offence to the nature of my post.

[insanityscatching]

Ophuchi I have quite a mix of children so I have ds 22 who I told you about who is gifted and who at 15 months astounded the GP by his vocabulary and comprehension.(He told him we were off on holiday at the weekend where we'd go and what he hoped to do there) Then I have ds 16 who has autism and had hyperlexia in so far as he taught himself to read at two and could read a newspaper at three. The two ds's are very different. My older ds read early as well but he read because he wanted to know the stories and facts the younger one read because he liked letters and words and read whatever came to hand to give him his fix rather than the content.If dd enjoys social interactin and can hold a conversation then I wouldn't think you have anything to worry about tbh. With my younger at that age he'd be oblivious to the GP because he'd be reading a book or magazine that he'd grabbed from the waiting room.HTH

[Ophuchi]

Thanks insanityscatching. DD enjoys stories and gets a lot out of them but she definately doesn't have a fixation with letters and numbers. She's quite happy to do her jigsaw puzzles, build towers and knock them down, play with her toy animals or chase a ball around.

She does love social interaction and conversation and seems a wee bit confused when other toddlers don't talk to her, poor thing.

She picked out another 4 words this morning but I think she must be memorising the shape of them as if they were pictures if that makes sense? Anyway, I don't want to jump the gun and call her 'gifted' as it's far too young to tell imo. I do think she's just an early starter with an exceptionally good memory.

[TheReturnoftheSmartArse]

Can I just say, Ophuchi, that I think you sound lovely! You've taken all the negative posts with really good grace. Trouble is, when texting, emailing, posting, whatever, you just don't "get it" when someone is having a gentle dig and something which is meant to sound a little tongue in cheek can sound rather harsh. I think you're very gracious and hope you enjoy your little girl and have another baby very soon!

[insanityscatching]

Yes mine learnt to read by memorising the shape of the words and not the individual letters fortunately they were in school pre phonics so they never had to relearn the phonics way.
I didn't even realise ds was gifted tbh until his teacher at the nursery attached to the school pounced on me and said "he reads and writes and does sums, who has taught him? Which nursery did he go to?"
I think she was quite astonished to learn he had never been anywhere but home and the vast majority of things he taught himself
He wasn't properly assessed until he was 11 though when his IQ was found to be in the top 0.1% of the population and they only put him forward for assessment after he won an inter school maths challenge beating pupils 6 years older than he was and he became very disruptive using his talents to affect the running of the school (at one point I feared he'd become a criminal mastermind
Just enjoy her, the years fly by you know and she'll be grown up before you know it.

[Ophuchi]

Thank you very much TheReturnoftheSmartArse. I was brought up in a poor family on a drug-ridden council estate and have found that good manners will get you far in life.

Yes I know, sometimes tone does get lost in text and I suppose I must have sounded like I was saying "Look at me - aren't I a great mummy and aren't my mates' kids dim" to some folk who read it the wrong way when in fact I'm just a first time mum who's pretty clueless and lacking a bit of confidence. I must say that the majority of posts were useful and positive and I am very grateful to all of you who took the time to reassure me.

I will be sure to post if baby 2 should arrive but in the mean time I'll count my blessings. :)

[Ophuchi]

Thanks Insanity - I bet you're pleased he didn't take the criminal mastermind route! I can't imagine how many questions you must have had to answer as his mum.

Er...I don't even know what phonics are. I think I've got a lot to learn :)

[Ophuchi]

1944girl - I'm very sorry for your son's troubles. I'm sure all mothers love their children no matter what.

I would like to think I'm not smug about DD. I don't take her to toddler groups because I would feel awkward.

[tiggyhop]

Ophuci - I think you're great. I honestly cannot remember what mine (now aged 8,7 and 6) were doing at 16 months as it's all a blur (and continues to be!).

One didn't read (not a word) till 6.5, but then finished all the Harry Potters in the following 6 months - another one taught himself to read before he was 4. The 3rd is definitely looking at the criminal mastermind route and so far is resisting any formal learning whatsoever....It amazes me how different everyone is.

Best of luck with it all. What's so fascinating is looking ahead to wonder where they will all end up...

[dikkertjedap]

Have you thought about teaching your daughter another language? This might be a good time to start, as she is likely to learn really quickly. Don't know where you are, but if you are in/near London then there will be several mother and toddler groups for French/German/Italian/Spanish speakers etc. Good luck.

[insanityscatching]

Tiggy you have my sympathies with the criminal mastermind one because they are hard work when they use their talents for mischief.
Ds was an impossible devil aged 11 to 18 outside of the house but a delight in it.
Sitting in the headmaster's office week in week out trying to keep a straight face as the latest scam was revealed (the school were obviously far less bright than ds) is something I wouldn't wish on anybody.
Some of his more memorable ones were hacking the school system and giving his mates free school meals, setting up an ebay account for the IT teacher putting his car on and giving the school number to phone at anytime (tell the receptionist it's urgent family illness), stealing positive referral slips and put them in the register so his class got the term rewards at the same time writing the slips in such a way that the form tutor believed the french teacher fancied him.
The list was endless so much so he'd get standing ovations as he swaggered into assembly when the latest had been discovered because he'd get bored and push it to the limit.

[mistlethrush]

insanity, I am dreading the thought that I might have one of those... He didn't walk until he was 14.5mo - but he was running the following day - around the kitchen table at fairly high speed.

I used to get the 'at this age your child should know x words' and worry that he didn't know that many - then I'd start a list and decide I didn't have to worry after all.

Complete sponge in terms of information.

Going into Yr2 next year - hope school will start engaging his attention slightly more, otherwise we're going to have problems.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

i think you'd know if she had autism.

My DD did do all these things and IS autistic (she regressed) but had other signs.

I did them too (read by age 2 etc) and am not autistic.

[tiggyhop]

Insanity that is hilarious (from an outsider's point of view, probably not quite so funny for you!). What's he doing now?

Mistle - none of mine said a word (I don't think, as I say, it's all a blur) until well over 2. DS walked at 16 months (I hadn't got him any shoes, my mum bought him some and he walked the next day...).

[pommedechocolat]

OP - If you want to go to Toddler Groups take her! She is who she is, no need to feel awkward.

[mistlethrush]

I sometimes wish Ds would be slightly less voluble.... He can talk and talk and talk and talk, and hold court on lots of unusual subjects and come up with lots of interesting facts and 'did you know' and general gossip (in between the karate kicks, hugs, stretches, high fives and running about (actually he can talk and do most of those things at the same time) and he's willing to share all his knowledge with anyone that will listen, including complete strangers and it never stops until he goes to bed!!!!

(I know that was a long sentence, but that's what its like in our house from 6.30am (on a good day) until 7.30pm)(at which point DH and I don't say anything for a while)

[insanityscatching]

Tiggy He has a senior position in Local Government and is tipped for the top. He gives presentations to headteachers and governors because his department is school support. He speaks to his old school through his employment and the first response is always "you aren't THE (name), our old pupil are you?" He is a lovely lad and always was at home but as he told his headteacher "my mum's not stupid I wouldn't get away with it if I tried half of this at home"

[Ophuchi]

Thank you Tiggy, your kids sound fantastic :)

Dikkertjedap - thanks for the suggestion. We are in Scotland but I'm sure I've seen French classes for little ones advertised in the next town. I don't have more than a rudimentary grasp of German myself - enough to book a hotel and order a beer :o but could teach her that later if she asks! Her dad knows a wee bit of Italian.

Insanity - I think you son's brilliant, you've got to love a bit of thinking outside the box.

Thank you all for your replies - went out to enjoy the sunshine and came in to heaps of posts :)

I don't really have the confidence to do toddler groups - I'm kinda scared of the other mums - is that pathetic?

[pommedechocolat]

No of course not if you don't feel comfortable there then they are definitely not obligatory! I just meant that if you wanted to go but felt awkward just because of her talking you should not worry and go.