how smart is too smart for a 2 yr old?

Question

my son i 2; can count to 10, knows ALL his colors and shapes... my mom says that if he learns "to much" before kindergarten he will be bored and more likely to get into trouble???

Answer 1

He's just nice and plenty bright.

When my son was two he knew the colors, counted, knew shapes, did 24--piece puzzles, knew everybody in the family
and extended family's birthdays, and recognized some words on a Mattel toy that had word cards. Two year-olds can do a lot when it comes to that kind of stuff. All that stuff is right for the little kid who has parents who talk to and pay attention to him.
It isn't as if he's doing physics or playing Beethoven. Not to take anything away from your little guy, but - really - your mother seems to be making a bigger deal out of it than it really is.

My son had been a premie and happened to have a Fall birthday. He wanted to start kindergarten when he was four, and I had family members who were actually disgusted with me for "pushing" him. He went to school, loved it, and was as comfortable as anyone else there was. Emotionally, unless they're really little oddball, super-uniquely, mature; they're the same as the other kids in the class for the most part.

The little kid who knows how to do stuff doesn't pay attention to who else in kindergarten can do what. All the well adjusted little kid thinks about is being with a bunch of four- or five-year-olds (in these days, six-year-olds too) and enjoying what's going on and having friends and doing things. If a child is really advanced they don't get bored in kindergarten. That sets in later, and it usually has some symptoms that are easily recognized.

Many little kids have had the same good start that your son and my son have had. The kindergarten will be full of little kids who knew their colors and numbers at two or did puzzles or read simple words by recognizing them in a toy. Yes, there are some kids who don't; but I suspect (particularly in the suburbs) that more kids are like your son and mine (who, by the way, is way older than yours is, which means I've seen for myself the benefit of the child who gets a little learning attention at home).

The way to keep a child from getting into trouble is to let him have the experiences now of being told occasionally (as when you're in a bank or some other business place) that this is a business place, and he has to sit quietly until you're finished. He probably already has time at home where he sits and does things that are "quiet" things. While his brain and social skills are still in such a developing stage, give him the experience of learning how to control his own behavior as I described above. This helps children learn to control the urge to get up and run around when the time or place isn't appropriate, and its the think that makes the difference between the child who gets in trouble and the one who knows how to pay attention in school and go with the program.

Little kids love to learn new, fun, things. It also helps them to understand the world around them, develop their language skills (so they can tell you what they want rather than have tantrums), and learn to enjoy learning even more. (There's a reason there has been the "Head Start" program for children from underprivileged homes, and that reason is to give those children the same kind of head start on learning that you have apparently given your little guy.)

With all due respect to your mother, I am completely confident that she is wrong on this particular matter as you've described it.
(There may be kids who have extremely high IQ's and who get bored, but they are as likely to be well behaved as anyone; and the ones who get in trouble have other problems beyond being very intelligent.) If you talk to some other mothers or read books about Head Start or other such topics, you'll see that you are not wrong.

Answer 2

all you're doing is giving him a head start on school. That is the same things taught in preschools and most daycares at 2 years old so you are doing great he isn't too smart. He's a quick learner that's for sure... you should be proud of him and don't let anyone tell he is going to get in trouble or anything like that if anything by keeping this up he may skip a grade

Answer 3

My daughter is now 7 years old and started to read when she was two years old. She now reads at a 4th grade reading level going into 2nd grade (here in the U.S.).

Sure he might be bored, but squelching his love of learning could have even more ramifications.

One suggestion would be at the time he is ready for kindergarten, talk with the teachers about his abilities and see if they can give him more challenging work. For instance, in 1st grade, my daughter would bring a book home to read which was at a higher level, but the teacher wanted her to complete a book report to give her an additional challenge. It not only kept her from being bored, but also helped with her writing and thinking skills.

Answer 4

This is NOT something to be worried about. The fact that your son has been able to learn all of this information is a good sign. Your mother has a valid concern . . . he may be ahead of his classmates in the future, but that is a long way off. Ask yourself, is my son advanced in all areas of development? Does he talk more than other kids his age? How are his motor skills? What about imaginative play? How are his social skills? If he is advanced in all areas, you may need to consider starting school early. But if he isn't, it is fairly likely that he will not be far ahead of other children once he reaches school age. He may just aquire skills in a different order than other children his age. Most of all, don't worry about it too much now. When's he's closer to 4, you might starting thinking about school more, but for now just enjoy him (and keep teaching him!).

Answer 5

Don't listen to your mother. He is fine. My daughter was learning to read at 3. She did excellent in school. She got bored in high school so we put her in the Gifted and Talented program. Now she is 22, working in ICU and CCU of a local hospital and has plans on teaching Nursing.

Read to him every night before bed. Let him pick out the book. Even if it is the same one till the pages fall apart. But then I bet you are already doing that. Keep up the good work.

Answer 6

My son is 2 and his doctor says he is on a 4 year old level already, dont stop teaching them. My son knows his abc's and can count to 13 by himself. My son knows 8 different words in sign language.

Answer 7

I would totally ignore your mother. Just because he knows that stuff already doesnt mean he is going to be so bored in school he'd get into trouble. I'm pretty sure that a teacher is going to be able to keep him plenty busy once he enters school.
Good luck and great job mom! (something your mother should try telling you!!)

Answer 8

He can't be too smart. You should always encourage him to learn and do as much as he can. Along with academic things, you should teach him respect for others and acceptable outlets for his emotions and for boredom. If he does have a problem with boredom in school, ask for harder or more stimulating work. You must be actively involved in his school career. You must be respectful of the teachers too, (teaching him by example) but don't let them pidgeonhole him as a troublemaker or as hyperactive.

Answer 9

I don't think there is a such thing as too smart. I think it's great your son can do that, and I don't think he will become bored, but if you think something like that later then just keep finding more things for him to learn, stimulate his mind.

Answer 10

Don't hold him back. If you're worried about him getting in trouble, there should be programs in school for children that are ahead of the rest, just like there are for children behind. If there isn't look into different schools that will help you child reach his potential.