Is DS2 (23 mths) abnormally bright learner and what to do about it!?!

[alphabeteer]

I have started a new thread in the Preschool Education topic but figure that this main Education topic is probably likely to provide a better forum as many of you wisened folk will have children who are a bit further down the education line...

Here it is and TIA:

mumsnet.com/Talk/preschool/724560-Is-DS2-23-mths-abnormally-bright-learner-and-what-to#14773142

And the text is:

Thought I would ask for some MN experience/thoughts and wisdom on DS2, who is 23 months and astonishes me with his ability to learn numbers and letters. I can only base my experience on DS1 who's 3 yrs 8 mths, and way 'behind' his younger brother (who BTW is 22 mths younger!!!). DS1 seems more average in his learning.

DS2 knows 23 out of 26 letters. As you're loading a DVD or on TV he will actually read out from the screen 'DVD', or 'OK' etc. He seems to actually understand (not sure if possible!) that 'B' is for bear, as he will say when we are out and about when he sees a letter B, 'B for bear' and 'B for Bertie bus' etc. He just seems very keen and geeky when it comes to letters, and will bring me paper and pen saying 'draw M for mummy' etc. He can count 1-12 and read out these numbers, out of sequence. I tested him in the PO queue where there some birthday candles shaped like numbers for cakes. I started at 9 and went backwards - he got them all! And what amazes me is it's not just in favourite familiar books that he can say his letters, it's out and about with unusual signs in elaborate fonts.

From 21 mths people have asked 'when did he turn 2?' etc, as he seems so bright.

Does anyone think this is a bit abnormal?! I guess I really would like to know if anyone has expert views or experience of their on DCs being like this, as I wonder whether I should be doing something extra for him, to stretch him etc? Or is just normal and I can keep plonking him in front of CBeebies and be the neglectful mother I am most of the time!

Definitely not an annoying gloating mother, just one trying to keep ahead of her kids (for a change!). TIA.

Definitely agree on the idea that there's an optimal level of intelligence. Too intelligent and you become a social outcast and have potential for a more miserable life I'm sure.

Thanks for the ASD info. DS goes to two different nurseries so I guess one of the two would have mentioned concerns if there was anything obvious. I think he just finds some children unpredictable and a bit hard to talk to that's the main thing.
Hard to know for sure though.

definitely do not 'DO' anything! Just let him enjoy what he enjoys as a pre-schooler, and give him access the the things he likes, but not unnatrually so! There is nothing worse than a 'pushed' kid (not suggesting ou are intending to push him) - I know a few who are continually told they are clever and they are little brats, whcih does them no favours in the wider world, or in the long term. When Ds1 (now 11) was an infant, there was a child in his class who was very bright, and whose parents ahd majored on this with flash cards, pushing for harder reading etc, insiting he was 'gifted' and he could write very well. Sadly his initial 'advancedness' did not continue, the other children 'caught up' with those things he was good at, and as he had been told since he was a baby that he was 'gifted' he did not bother to make any effort. Sadly now the children are on the verge of going to secondary school he has struggled to get offers, while he ( and his poushy parents) watch the 'slower' children (!) get into the best schools...

Obviously find the most academdically selective pre pre school around something like Colet court or haberdashers boyswww.habsboys.org.uk/prep/index/index.php so he will be educated amongst very clever other boys from age 5 and is properly stretched.

All this stretching makes them sound like bits of elastic! I should wait and see if he really is bright before you start pushing him. I agree with MrsGuyOf Gisbourne-I think she writes a lot of sense. If he is bright it will shine through and that is the time to do something along the selective line -23months is too young to know whether he would be suited. My DH, who was a fluent reader, by 3yrs got a scholarship to a selective independent school at secondary level-his parents didn't 'push' at all. I can think of several very bright children who quietly are getting on and will go far, mainly because their parents are keen for them to be well rounded and are not 'pushing' them. The truly bright don't need pushing-just encouraging and nurturing, especially when they are still what I would class as a baby.

Sorry comma in wrong place! My DH, who was a fluent reader by 3 yrs,.....
Should proof read.

I think it means nothing really at that age. My DT2 was good with numbers at a young age, not as advanced as the OP but he knew his numbers and letters early as well as understanding number concepts, shapes, colours all well before he was expected to. he was good at spotting letters and numbers in signs and objects generally At preschool he was a good bit ahead of Dt1 in early maths particularly, which was acknowledged in his report. At 7 DT1 is far ahead of Dt2 with maths being Dt2's weakest subject, particularly mental maths. He has been assessed as having moderate learning difficulies although this is not clear as he has attention problems also I think being good at that soet of thing early just means that a child has a good rote memory and good at patterns and shapes rather than being an indicator of things to come

Oh Xenia