Memory and 2 year olds - just curious

[boo64]

I'm genuinely just curious here as I think my ds has an amazing memory but maybe all 2 year olds do as this is the way they learn?

Ds (2.3) is amazing at remembering everything - particularly the way to places and what is where. So for example as I turned onto the motorway the other day he said the name of his great gran - that was the last person we went to see when we went on the motorway.

As we go down one road nearish my house he starts pointing out unprompted what is down certain roads off that road e.g. ducks down there (we have only been to the duck pond 3 times and you can't see it from the road, sports club there. Asked him where the music class we went to once is and he got it right.
Won't bore you with more.

So I know I sound like I'm boasting but I really am curious - are all 2 year olds very good at remembering stuff.

It's really interesting, Boo, this is something dsis and I talk about a lot (she has a 2.6y dd, I have a 2.3y ds). Their memories are mind-blowing, really. ds2 mentions things from months and months ago, but when you question him, he does genuinely seem to remember - he correctly identified a peacock today having seen one for the first time 6weeks ago. He correctly remembered dsis's doula's name from months ago. And he still goes on about the goat incident from last year.

Yet he can never seem to remember to be gentle with his little brother

dd has always had a brilliant memory for people. If I mention someone, she'll say "the one who was wearing the green cardy?" or something like that and she'll be right. she didn't do that when she was 2, but she did have a great memory for odd things then.

...but she still can't remember where she put her shoes 10 minutes ago. what can you do?

Yep, DS is 2.4 and has a simply fantastic long-term memory. He might well have a good short-term one, too, but he's so easily distracted it's hard to tell!

Ditto 2happy's experience with smaller siblings and being (not so) gentle. I must say 'gently, gently, no, DS, more gently than that... stop it!' 10 times a day.

I think that most of them probably do. I know mine has. I can pick up a toy and ask him who bought him it for his birthday last November (when he was just 2). He answers correctly every single time.

I think it's because their minds are so uncluttered at this age.

my 2 year old does this too. he recognises lots of stuff and i do believe has a better sense of direction than me (ok, perhaps not) but yes, he definitely has a good memory too.

the other day he reminded me i needed to get money out when we were passing a cashpoint - and he was right - we did and I had genuinely forgotten!

Haha - just clicked on this as my sister and I were discussing this today and looks like she got here already .

It's sad, though that in the long term they will remember so little - I've only very isolated memories from when I was 2-3.

....guess who's still messing about and not asleep

Oh, dd is too - she's has 4 tantrums since we got back then did another wee on the kitchen work-top.

Nooooooooooo!

(Is this a ruse to make sure I never come round to yours for lunch again?!)

No - she's tucked up fast asleep [evil grin].

Ds however is wailing......soddit.

Ooh you cow - this is to get me back for my earlier smugness isn't it?!

Yes, my dd is 20mths and has a very good memory as well, can remember the name of nanas cat. If I ask her who went to x yesterday she will reel everyones names off, remembers and recognises people she hasn't seen for ages. She can usually remember where she put things if I ask her to find something. Their minds are like little sponges at this age though, soaking everything up!!

Ah desiderata - great reasoning as to why - and that would explain why I can no longer remember much - my brain is too cluttered!

Ds has also memorised where everything is in our usual supermarket - quite handy really!