I have a 2 1/2 year old, who is very good with language. She talks in full sentences and gets concepts like "both". She knows her ABC and can count to twenty (we haven't really tried going further) and accurately count things. She is starting to spell words now with magnetic letters. She has an amazing memory for signs and symbols. She is also good with finding her way around. For example she know which street the library's on even if she can't see it. She is funny and enjoys jokes and word games. She's been alert from the get go.
Socially she struggles. Most kids her age don't talk like she does and so shes finds the snatch and grunt behaviour of 2 year olds hard to understand. She's fine with school age kids though and happily chat and play with them.
I don't know if she is gifted but I do know she is smart. It seems that from 3 onwards she will be able to start making friends. How do I encourage her to do things with kids her own age? I imagine the other kids will start to catch up soon or at least be able to talk to her?
I would say you don't! Yes, they will start talking more soon but probably won't want to talk about the things your daughter does. My daughter is 2 years accelerated and is in Year 10 and loving it - finally some like minded people to talk to. She has had friends, they just didn't think like her.
I would find actiivies for her that have mixed age children so she can choose who to play with rather than be stuck with the 2 year olds.
I wouldn't worry about whether she was really smart or gifted at this stage. Why not just believe she is gifted? (you don't have to tell anyone and no harm will come if you are wrong but you probably won't be).
I laugh at her knowing where the library is - my daughter is 12 years old and still can't remember how to get to the library.
Hi Rachael, I agree with country girl about mixed ages. My son was actually slow with language but miles ahead in thinking/abiltiies and he started at his Montessori preschool at 2 yrs 10 months, and instantly made friends with all the children over four and a half. It felt like his whole first year was farewelling one friend after another to school, but he didn't relate to other young children. I love how they group 3-6 years all together.
Now he's closer to 4 he's actually friends with a really broad range of children, even some a little bit younger, though still definitely all the older ones too. I wonder if for your daughter it will naturally sort itself out too. Also remember that children aren't usually ready to be 'proper friends' at such a young age anyway, many preferring to be on their own, or still learning social skills until well over three and a half.
Hi Rachael B,
Your daughter sounds much like mine was at the same age. If you live in an area where Small Poppies is run I would suggest you look at that. (unfortunately I did not know about it back then and it would have been perfect for us) There she will be with others as bright as she is, and also of a similar age. It really is important for them to meet other children more like themselves so that they don't grow up thinking they are "not normal".
Good luck!
Thanks all. She currently does playcentre a couple of mornings a week, so is exposed to some older kids (most are two year olds though). Unfortunately Tina we live rurally so not many opportunities here. We have found a lovely family with a seven year old girl who likes to play with her, so plan is to invite her over in the weekends. We may start kindy at the end of the year when she's three, but the session are all day and she gets pretty tired by the afternoon with no nap.
Wow, you could have been describing my son! He is 3 and a half now, and is starting to be able to play with kids his age although still gets frustrated when they (eg) don't follow the rules correctly or don't participate in things the way he thinks they should be done - 6 months ago he wasn't interested in kids his age AT ALL. If we are with a group of kids that he knows with varying ages, he will still deviate towards the older one's (5 year old girls are his favourite).
