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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Intelligent 2 year old - WHAT CAN WE DO?

65 replies

DaddyWise · 06/03/2012 18:24

I have been told by many people including a health visitor that my daughter is well above average in many aspect. She is 2y and 4m and in some aspects she is up there with 4 year olds. Obviously I want to harness this in a way that will be beneficial to her. Looking at Spanish lessons which could be a good start I think? Obviously there are lots of things I can do at home but would like to know of any clubs or organisations that can help her. Thought of the congnitive tests but not sure if they do those for a child so young? Would love your thoughts please. Looking for something around the Leeds area. Thank you :)

OP posts:
Seeline · 07/03/2012 09:20

Exactly what BlackeyedSusan said - what an idylic childhood. If only every parent had the time/inclination to try everything on that list I wonder how different the world might be Sad
My 2 DCs are both fairly able, and have shown that from an early age. As others have said, their language skills developed early which reinforced that appearance. However, I think the sign of intelligence is using those language skills in an advanced way. THe sort of questions my two were asking at about 18 months were Why is the sky blue, where does the wind come from etc. The questionning mind of a toddler......

HoneyandHaycorns · 07/03/2012 11:33

When you ask DC4 (aged 4) what he is going to be when he grows up he replies 'a paediatric oncologist'

Grin mrsDV, when dd was 5, she told everyone that she wanted to be an archaeological scientist when she grew up. Now she wants to be a shopkeeper. Confused

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 07/03/2012 11:59

honey you obviously didnt keep up the encouragement bribery long enough Grin

HoneyandHaycorns · 07/03/2012 12:20

I know, I've failed as a parent, haven't I. So much early potential gone to waste!

mamalovebird · 07/03/2012 12:34

We were told the same about DS at his 2 year review and his nursery, but I've taken it all with a pinch of salt tbh.

He's only 2. I'm fairly sure he'll level out by the time he's at school and if he doesn't then we'll address it then.

In the meantime we haven't told anyone. I want him to just enjoy himself. We'll nurture his inquistiveness and continue to do what we're doing with his activities but that's it. I'm no pushy mum and it's too much pressure for a toddler.

HouseworkProcrastinator · 07/03/2012 13:03

My eldest was WAY ahead at 2. She spoke well, was articulate, she knew numbers and most letters. Very sensible and grown up. 2 year review she flew through... Now at 5 she is lovely but certainly not gifted, maybe slightly higher than average but not top of the class. She just developed quicker I suspect.

EBDteacher · 07/03/2012 14:41

Yeah, I meant that I only do what my DS wants me to do. Obviously if we're reading at a book and he points at a letter and then looks at me I'll tell him the sound it makes- so I am involved. I am not, however, sat drilling him with phonics flashcards because I think that's what he should do. I also have not particularly encouraged him to be interested, he just is. In everything!

Surely all you can do is go with their interests and facilitate them picking up whatever THEY want to??

DaddyWise · 07/03/2012 15:53

Seline- Yes I agree with what blackeyedsusan said too. Sounds like a lovely Lady

OP posts:
DaddyWise · 07/03/2012 16:04

Seline- Yes I agree with what blackeyedsusan said too. Sounds like a lovely Lady!!

OP posts:
kistigger · 08/03/2012 14:17

Wow did I miss out on seeing my HV? The last time I saw one was when DS was nearly 3 and DD was about 3 months, she did an assessment for both of them. DD is now nearly 6! DD only had a sight test before she went to school because I rang up to get one cos she was trying to read and DS had like the rest of the family acquired glasses and I was concerned that she may have the same problem so wanted it checked early so she didn't strain her eyes etc. Sorry separate issue!

Lots of local libraries and similar type places offer rhyme time, story time, song time etc, all of which are really good for development!

I have to admit we did a lot of stuff early with DD because she kept asking for it, not clubs and stuff but general learning, she wanted mental stimulation a lot! Yes we taught her to read, after she had taught herself the sounds from Letterland VHS's I got from a charity shop, though not as early as 2 not cos she didn't want to then but because she simply didn't have the concentration to sit still long enough to actually read for herself, only the power to sit and listen to you read a story!

If she likes animals she could learn their names and start to look for differences ie that monkeys aren't the only type of apes, monkeys specifically have tails, or that you can tell the difference between a frog and a toad cos one has smooth skin and the other is warty. That all sounds like learning slog but my DD was obsessed with looking at similarities and differences!

It's to good to go hunting round the garden or local park etc for insects, interesting footprints or collecting different types of leaves in autumn. Learning at the end of the day is as fun as you make it. If you sit them down behind a desk and say here's a text book, a few children will rub their hands together and say goody but most will sigh and switch off. If you make things into a game and an adventure, most will go on that journey as long as you travel on it, you finding things out along the way!

Nocluebomboo · 08/03/2012 14:57

Can I just say to the OP - My 2YO takes spanish classes and LOVES THEM. She is a very 'serious' child - she likes structured classes and lots of sitting and listening Confused. That is just the sort of child she is. She does La Jolie ROndie and I think it's great. She sings along in spanish so well (I still need the translation sheet! Blush)

I don't think I'm a pushy parent. DD is not my first child. DS likes to run in fields, which I let him do most days. DD likes to sit still and have instruction. Who am I to say what the ave. 2YO is like? Neither of mine fit the 'average' mould!

So, go for it. The classes my DD does are (i) spanish, (ii) ballet and (iii) monkey music. All but the last expected her to be dry (she has been since her second birthday!) and left alone (she's independent!) . In both the spanish and ballet, she is BY FAR the youngest child there, but she has made friends and enjoys the classes immensely.

If your child happens to enjoy the classes, then go for it.

sairygamp · 08/03/2012 15:01

LAst night I decided to let my year one daughter (6 and three months) have a go at the sample entrance paper for the local academic girls' prep school, which they take in year 2. She got every single maths question right. Does this make her spectacularly brilliant? I honestly don't know whether to suggest putting her in for it next year, as there is no way she could go without a full bursary.

sairygamp · 08/03/2012 15:02

Meant to add, she's at a local primary and all her friends seem to be doing extra classes like Spanish, French Gymnastics. We simply can't afford it, but she does go to a a little dram group down the road. Would we be setting ourselves up for her to fail if we 'push' her??

Ephiny · 08/03/2012 15:11

I am a bit Hmm about children being labelled as gifted/advanced at such an early age (I was one myself and it was unhelpful, especially as I grew up to be not so exceptional anyway!).

Learning a language sounds a great idea though, it's often best to start that as early as possible and they can pick them up very quickly at that age. And assuming she can read, provide lots and lots of books, take her to the library to look at and choose books.

No need for any pressure or worrying about 'harnessing' things though, or joining special 'organisations'!

allypally1983 · 11/09/2014 18:28

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