Bright 2 year old, how can I help him?

[Elizabeth996]

Really don’t want this to come across braggy which is why I’m writing here rather than talking to friends irl.

My son, 2 is what I believe very bright for his age. He can count to at least 30, recognises the numbers even not in order. He writes the numbers down also, sometimes 41 instead of 14 but has the purpose of you know what I mean. Counts objects too.

He knows a lot of shapes and can draw these mostly too.

He knows his full alphabet, again not just in order. Knows the phonics for them all too. He writes these too with ease. Occasionally does one back to front but on a whole is very spot on. He’s begun in the last month to say b for ball etc and even draws a little picture next to it, cat next to c etc. Even drew a ‘skeleton (stockman really) for X-ray yesterday. He can write his name if I help him with what comes next and asks to do family names too, after a few times of doing it he mostly remembers simple ones like mum and dad.

He spends nearly all his day writing letters and numbers and drawing. Enjoys it so much which is why I think he can do it as well as he does.

Now I’m just wondering if anyone has a child who has been similar and what kind of activities they have done to help keep them challenged? I have an older son who is in reception and he’s been joining in with a lot of his homeschooling work. I definitely am not pushing him or want to, he just has very big emotions sometime 🤣 and I think a lot of it can be frustration when he isn’t challenged as much. He is just starting at a new pre school, I know that kids are at different stages but I really want him to stay challenged and engaged when there and at home purely because he enjoys it so much. So any activities I can do with him that isn’t just me pushing worksheets etc at him would be appreciated!

Make sure you develop skills across the board. Consider music for example.

I don't think you need to do anything. Let him explore and play. Encourage outdoor play, as the gross motor coordination leads to fine motor control.

@Endofthelinefinally

Make sure you develop skills across the board. Consider music for example.

Oh yes he loves music and dancing, we seem to have nursery rhymes running in the background most of the day at the minute 🙄🤓

encourage imaginative play that is what I am doing, get him to make up stories, do tea parties etc and yes music, dancing, getting out in the sunshine.

I tell his nursery this a lot as they think he is fine just reading all day when he needs to learn other skills too.

What strikes me as the most unusual aspect is his ability to write and draw recognisable shapes, letters and pictures. He sounds very very talented artistically. I would encourage him to look at all sorts of things around him, and at paintings too. And as another poster said, listen to music and dance to it. If you live where there is a kid sly music teacher for little children that would be good. Then, just keep reading lots and lots.

Not kid sly, KODALY

Oh yes he definitely does play, he loves small world play and role play, we go for walks every day and play outside and do lots of games and activities. But any spare moment he has he grabs his little easel and draws/ writes. He’s so interested in the whole things that I wanted to encourage his love of it in other ways. While doing all the other things too if you know what I mean 🙂

He does sound really bright. There's lots of information at nagc.org. I think the main thing is follow his lead.

He’s definitely very artistic, my 5 year old isn’t very interested which is why it’s been so stand out to me. When he draws shapes he often after adds a little face and arms and legs too, it’s so cute. I definitely want to get him into some groups like
Music, just hard with the pandemic atm x

@Mylittlepony374

He does sound really bright. There's lots of information at nagc.org. I think the main thing is follow his lead.

Brill Thankyou, will take a look. I couldn’t care less if he wasn’t into all of this but he enjoys it so much that I just want to encourage him and give him new challenges if he wants it if you know what I mean x

Yes, to outdoor play as another poster said. Body and mind must grow together. This is really important as he grows up too because given he is so intelligent there will be more and more for him to be ‘working’ on a academically etc and being physically active balances and relaxes the mind.

I agree with a pp- it’s his writing/drawing skills that are really standout. Learning letters/numbers/counting at that age is really just a reflection on what he’s been exposed to, but you can’t really teach pen control like that. My 2 year old (nearly 3) is bright and is learning to read, but can’t write any letters yet (apart from I, C and O!).

How about other things for his age such as dressing himself, putting on shoes, wiping after the toilet etc. For now, I would leave the bits he is doing well at as fun for him to pace himself and look at whether there is anything else he needs to develop.

DD2 was advanced with reading, writing etc but still now needs a lot of emotional support and help to develop. It would be better all round if she was a bit more balanced.

@HarrietM87

I agree with a pp- it’s his writing/drawing skills that are really standout. Learning letters/numbers/counting at that age is really just a reflection on what he’s been exposed to, but you can’t really teach pen control like that. My 2 year old (nearly 3) is bright and is learning to read, but can’t write any letters yet (apart from I, C and O!).

My 5 year old really struggled holding a pen properly until he started school, my 2 year old seemed to have really good pen control from the get go. Every child is so different aren’t they. We go through so much paper in my house now 😆

2 and how many months?

I would just keep doing what you’re doing and follow his interests when you can.

@OverTheRainbow88

2 and how many months?

I would just keep doing what you’re doing and follow his interests when you can.

He is 2 years 7 months. But has been doing most of this since he turned 2. The last couple of months it has enhanced a lot x

You may well find that schools don't like bright children and won't cater for them. Outside activities are really important for their mental health. Look for chess clubs, music and art clubs, maths and computer clubs. Very young chiidren can enjoy all these if you can find them. There used to be a National association for gifted children which was very good. Gifted children can find it challenging to fit in at school.

My DD is bright 9 years old and very bored at school. We can't afford private school so she is stick where she is.

My advice having been where you are and made mistakes would be don't teach him too much, try to discourage joining in with school work - he will have to do it when he gets to school regardless of if he knows it or not.

Work on hobbies that he won't experience at school. If you are reading don't just focus on learning the words make sure he understands the story. Talk about it afterwards, ask him questions to check understanding.

Sport, art, music, dance. Follow his lead.

clever little boy! well done OP for encouraging him!

lots of chatting, which you are clearly doing, read books and run your hands on the words as you go.

music, instruments and also general house hold stuff - get him cleaning too! all very well being clever but even smarter if they can do some work while you have abrew haha :)

keep it up, especially while hes keen

That all sounds brilliant, but please make sure his skills are functional.

I'm a Speech and Language Therapist, and so many parents I work with become fixated on letters and numbers. In actual fact, these things are easily learnt, and are not a patch on functional skills.

Sounds just like my son. He adored numbers at that age, and was reading fluently before he was 4 (although couldn’t write until he started Reception - wouldn’t hold a pencil/crayon at home!) He knew 2D and 3D shapes at 4 and most of his tables. At 5 he’d mastered column addition and subtraction, and understood place value and a decent amount of fractions.

Does your son like Numberblocks? DS loved that so much, they introduce lots of fun number concepts. He’s almost 7 now, he does extension work at school and loves facts/Encyclopedia type books, not as bothered about fiction. He’s not really sporty, but he likes music and has got into kids’ coding apps which they do at school.

@MsAnnThropic

That all sounds brilliant, but please make sure his skills are functional.

I'm a Speech and Language Therapist, and so many parents I work with become fixated on letters and numbers. In actual fact, these things are easily learnt, and are not a patch on functional skills.

Can I ask what you mean by functional skills? Tbh on a day to day basis none of it is done by my lead, he asks to sit and draw/ write or while playing counts his toys, points out shapes everywhere we go. He will say mummy what’s that shape and I say what is it? And he replies with the shape it is etc x

@Jeanswithanicetop

Sounds just like my son. He adored numbers at that age, and was reading fluently before he was 4 (although couldn’t write until he started Reception - wouldn’t hold a pencil/crayon at home!) He knew 2D and 3D shapes at 4 and most of his tables. At 5 he’d mastered column addition and subtraction, and understood place value and a decent amount of fractions.

Does your son like Numberblocks? DS loved that so much, they introduce lots of fun number concepts. He’s almost 7 now, he does extension work at school and loves facts/Encyclopedia type books, not as bothered about fiction. He’s not really sporty, but he likes music and has got into kids’ coding apps which they do at school.

Oh yes loves number locks and alphablocks. We also use the app reading eggs with my 5 year old and 2 year old has been using that too. Literally any time he can he is doing some kind of learning activity or watching something to do with learning, such a busy boy constantly 🤪

Was meaning to get him into a music group before Covid hit, hopefully we can start one soon enough!

He sounds bright but not exceptional in the s hool academic sense, does he understand what makes up each number? Ie 4 is 4 single units but 14 is 1 lot of ten and 4 units? Knowing numbers and letters not linked to a context is a good start but the context needs to follow. Lots of children (albeit 4 years old, know c is for cat and can draw them etc but no clue what else c is for . How is he at I spy? Great phonics practice. If hes not writing his name try encouraging that- can he read? Lots of reading to him /with him is good. As the second child he will generally pick up alot of numbers and letter work from sibling and this us taken into account in Foundation Stage.
Hows his speech? Full sentences? Can he follow directions? 3 part instructions? Can he dress himself? Get shoes on?

I know you have a 5 year old so probably know all this but Early Years is about the whole child. It's great he can draw and write but move to outdoor exploring the garden, learning about insects/amimals/weather . Gross motor skills. Jumping, balancing, following a routine. Broader personal care skills. Is he able to use the toliet independently? Etc. Try working on the bits he isn't so good at to even out and round him out, then he will have an advantage once in nursery/school but lots of children other great skills at this age and then suddenly read and write in nursery/reception so dont think (not meant in a horrible way) that he will always be ahead of peers.

Just keep doing what you're doing. I honestly think bright kids don't need anything 'special'.
Also, just enjoy his enjoyment of stuff, as that can be 'beaten out of them' (not literally ) by school and 'the system'. It's when they're just loving stuff with no concept of how impressive they are that they really shine. Once more self-awareness sets in, it all becomes more complicated.
Just my view and possibly rubbish but I look back at how talented my DD was (is) in one area and can't remember how she turned into this raging teen who allegedly hates, and thinks she's a failure at, what she's clearly so good at!