Is this unusual in a 20 month old?

[Ophuchi]

My friend's son is 20 months old and recently she has had concerns about his speech development as he only has 4 words - mum, dad, dog and bab (meaning his sister.) He does understand what is said to him and can point out things when asked.

She had him assessed and as it turns out, he has the cognitive ability of a 3 year old. He is very quick with puzzles.

Is this unusual in a 20 month old? Could he be gifted in maths?

DS1 is nearly 6 and is good at 'construction" i.e. lego, if that helps at all............

Hee hee, yes I saw a bit of that thread! Mine didn't say hello to the midwife or anything like that - completely normal. No like I said with DD, I think the early reading is just that - early reading. Friend's DS is really great at puzzles though, and though it's not likely it wouldn't surprise me if he were gifted. His dad's certainly a bit of a boffin!

Thank you all and goodnight. Got a toddler to ENJOY at stupid o'clock :)

No really, she's lovely......after 6 am.

I read at 2. I am not in the least bit gifted, except at tying knots.

I was just an early developer.

cats health visitors usually use the schedule of growing skills (sogs) and although not trained in psychological testing it is obvious when children fall behind or excel at certain areas.

My HV stated 'she is ahead in all areas' at a 2yr review regarding dd1. She is now yr1 and has not levelled out.

I am a HV and can only add that if the childs environment remain stimulating that it is unlikely it will even out.

Evidence suggests the gap widens generally.

i.e. a child who reads 1 yr ahead remains the same/ improves more quickly because of practice.

At 20 months though, no special provision, just continue with what she is doing.

I don't find that at all AnxiousElephant. At 10yrs old no one can tell whether a person learnt to read at 2 yrs or 8yrs, if they are fluent. It isn't a race and if it was lots of slow starters overtake.

Ds is 2 next week and has been doing puzzles with ease for a while now. I certainly don't see this as any indication he is going to be a genius, just that he enjoys doing it!

People spouted all sorts of rubbish about my DS when he was little-he was just a generally bright DC who had a lot of adult company. The fact that he knew every car make at 2 yrs didn't signify anything other than he liked cars!

Thanks for your replies. Whether they are behind, middle of the road or ahead of average when they get to school age isn't really relevant. What's important is that both children come from loving, supportive homes where their parents take an interest in them and their education. That's more than I ever had.

I think 'gifted' springs to mind when you see something you didn't think would have been possible. My mil thinks my daughter may be gifted because she's reading sentences her son couldn't read at 8. (He turned out incredibly smart though, so it clearly doesn't matter) She seems normal to me though, because that's all I've known.

My friend's child seems 'gifted' because of his incredible patience with puzzles. Although my DD enjoys them, she hasn't anything like the attention span of my friend's little boy. I think he's amazing.

Lastly, I suppose we can be forgiven for thinking our children are smart little cookies, after all 20 months ago they were just squaling little creatures that fed, slept and pooed :)

Thanks again to all who offered their opinions and advice.

I think I remember Ophuchi, are you the one who had the other thread about your DD reading?

Yes, that was me. I was concerened about Autism/Hyperlexia and received a lot of helpful comments and advice after the initial slagging off!

DD 14 had a puzzle fascination when she was 2.3 and was doing 50 to 100 piece puzzles meant for 5 years plus. She has gone on to be very good at maths , ie top set in yr9.

Thats good to know bruffin :)