normal development compared to gifted/talented

[moomin86]

Hi there

I just wanted to ask what is normal or average development for a 16 month old and what are the signs that they may need to be challenged more as they get older or that they may be more advanced or gifted?

Ive found it hard discussing my daughter with people as I don't want people to feel I am boasting but I am unsure if I should be thinking about development and how we can support her as she gets older or if this is normal behaviour that will even out, or is it to early to tell?

When is the appropriate time to ask for help? as I feel she is completely different from her peers. I feel like I can't keep up with her but if I try and speak to friends I find the response negative and people become very defensive. I feel like a fish out of water and am concerned about getting her into an environment that will understand her needs. Her nursery have moved her up to try and challenge her more and I know she is no where near school age but I did not think she would be doing the things she is at this age but am unsure if my expectations are wrong as Ive never had a child before

Thanks in advance

I agree that it's more than the most gifted. DD certainly isn't that - there are plenty smarter - but she never had explicit instruction. But her 'thing' is pattern recognition, so it just worked for her.

Wailywaily
Wow. I'm seriously impressed.

Thanks Marcipex thats a lovely thing to say on the G&T board.
DS is a complete dork in other ways, he has just spent the entire day with his shorts on back to front because he will not be told that he has got something wrong. So when I pointed out that his shorts are on the wrong way round he argued that I was wrong because the buttons were at the front .

As a pp said, I try not to talk about this much in RL as people do tend to think you are being a bit PFB (DS is my second and actually the youngest of four). I was a bit when he started reception and the weekly newsletter was praising the DC for learning to count to 20. I even sent in some work that he had done at home - he had written out his 2x tables. I wish I hadn't tbh as I got quite short shrift from his teacher .

I would say to the OP don't worry you will keep up just keep answering the questions and play a lot of games and when you are completely exhausted Cbeebies is a godsend

@Madwoman, how did you know your DD could read if she was non-verbal? How did she communicate to you?

Not questioning your account (actually not interested in preschoolers who read), instead intrigued how did she demonstrate that she understood how to read if she didn't speak (or did she?) Sign language?

lljkk my db was reading and understanding words he couldn't say. He had real problems with speech until he was 5 or 6.

We knew because around 3yo he worked out that if he couldn't say things to make us understand he could write them (phonetically). So actually the lack of speech brought on his writing and hence his reading.
I remember a note once, when he was just over 3yo "ilkman at the dore. I pade him" and dm found the very bemused milkman standing at the door with a couple of plastic pennies in his hand not sure what to do.

Just enjoy her- they are all different and it tends to even out. My dd is 2.7: she can do 70-100 piece puzzles and could do 35 by your dds age, been talking in sentences since 16 months and can recognise her numbers up to 20.On the other hand her balance is terrible, she can't be bothered to spend any time colouring drawing or painting and she only recognises 2 letters; she finds it hard to sit through a story for more than 3 or 4 minutes . They all have things they are good at and just encourage and enjoy In my opinion.