does anyone elses 18month old do this?

Question

hi there, i have an 18month old son and everyone keeps telling me he is very intelligent i just wanted to know how many other 18month olds are doing the things he's doing as i actually think he is very normal and not advanced. here is some of what he is doing anyway:
he can recognise the letters c e h i j m o p s t
he can recognise and count to 5
he can put his own shoes on and do the velcro up
he can put his own pants on
he unstacks the dishwasher and puts the plates bowls and cups away
he doesn't have a day nap anymore
he knows when he has gone poos and when his nappy is wet
he tells me when he is hungry or when he wants to go to bed
he knows over 100 words in english, at least 100 in maori, and about 80 in samoan and has no problem differentiating between the three languages and will happily use and understand either or.
he's been walking since 7months (he didn't crawl), now he walks runs skips and hops on one foot..

wow thanks for the overwhelming response lol maybe i should rethink a bit and start accepting it.. he can crawl (like he goes through tunnels and under stuff etc) he just walked first and didn't crawl until a few months later.. i'm not sure i want him to get his i.q tested i was actually hoping that you'd all tell me he was normal and on time for everything not advanced :S but thanks :)

Answer 1

girl..........i would be proud if that was my son.............he's definately UP THERE! good luck for the future!

Answer 2

My daughter had her 4 month check-up today and was 16 lbs 1 oz and 26" long. So I know how it feels to not be able to fit onesies well...they never want to snap in the crotches but fit everywhere else because she is so long! She wears 9 month (sometimes 12) month clothes. He is "telling" you he is ready for spoon feeding. He shows interest, and takes it off the spoon. Doesn't have that reflex where they push it right back out. My daughter is all about spoon feeding now! Some just reach that point a little earlier then others. My Dr. said continue to make sure (at 4 mo) she is getting atleast 24 oz milk a day in addition to 1 time a day of either rice cereal or applesauce. I don't think cereal will result in more weight. It will help fulfill his appetite and in turn he will probably drink less milk. It will equal out. Don't be scared about the weight gain. He is telling you what he needs. I would stop the cereal in the bottle though...stick to spoon only...

Answer 3

well at least you didn't name your son after fruit. If you had named him "FIG" or "Apple"... then I would start to wonder if there was any connection with Issac Newton's brilliance or if you had a lil Albert Einstein tyke. LOL

I think that is great that he has learned so much... encourage him and expose him to new things that you think that he can handle at that age. But don't give him some hard concept to learn because he is 'smart' right now. Don't push, or overwhelm him because you are ecstatic that you have a quick-learning kid... because if you push too much and get him involved in so many things (too many to counts and dizzies you going back and forth like a chicken without its head)... it may backfire later on... he may resent you, your pushing him... thinking you are too pushy... and then not want to do anything.

I have a 2-yr-old nephew... he can't talk yet... maybe 4 english words... ma, da, bye, & hot. I also have a 6 yr old niece... she was able to read at 2 already.... so my sister encourage that and nurture her love for reading by going to the museums... the library... and got her a bookcase for new books... 4 years later... she still LOVES to read... and is interested in all kinds of new things and topics... She is in Kindergarten and reads at a 4th grade level... but just because she is 'advanced' in reading doesn't mean that we should put her in 4th grade right now. My sister supplements that brightness in the child by doing extra craft activities at home... signing her up for an art class at the museum... sign her up for a camp that involves her in a topic she is interested in... just supplement with outside school things..

so 'nurture'... but don't pressure and be pushy... the kid is bright... but remember... the lil tyke is still young... don't make him an einstein, allow him to still be a kid and still play.

Answer 4

sounds like you have a very smart little one there be happy that he does all of the above and I think maybe he is advanced that he speaks three different languages already wow i am impressed and as far as walking at 7 months that's great i walked at 9 months maybe he will make you very proud of him later in life just make sure when he goes to school that he will not be bored with the class work he will need to be in advanced classes like my 11 yr old they call it swat student with accelerated talent .

Answer 5

Congratulations, You're the parent of a savant genius and I'm not joking. Take him to the doctor to do more evaluation on that subject. Good luck!

Answer 6

My daughter is 19 months old... she does almost all of these things. She knows all of her body parts, knows people's names, counts to 10, sings songs, etc. She knows over 100 words on English too... I don't know another language to teach her. She knew what garbage was on the floor (like small pieces of paper) at 10 months. She would give it to me to throw away and say "ca-ca" , her doctor couldn't believe it.

hahaha, we have very gifted children and I am thrilled!!!

Answer 7

He is advanced but don't be surprised when he is dyslexic - super achievers young have strategic learning disabilities in later life. You can help by teaching him left from right now and encouraging balance and spinal strength with crawling exercises. Good Luck!

Answer 8

You got a lil genius there! should get his IQ tested.


Some behaviours of young gifted children

Gifted children often have abilities which may not be recognized. They may also have highly creative abilities which are not expected and hard to see, or have disabilities which mask their high abilities.

The following are often (but not always) observed compared to age based norms:

Has a good memory.
Has a subtle or mature sense of humour (may understand word puns before other children) may not appreciate silly or bathroom humour of other children the same age.
exceptionally curious.
May see solutions that rarely occur to others.
Has a high energy level.
Has a wider knowledge base.
Uses advanced vocabulary.
Uses advanced grammar or sentence structure.
May be very interested in abstract terms (time, space).
Is interested in cause and effect relationships.
Has a long attention span for activities of own choosing.
May enjoy difficult puzzles.
Sees endless possibilities for various situations or uses for objects.
Says what he/she thinks without regard for consequences.
Great imagination, frequent daydreamer.
Highly developed powers of concentration, may need to be physically touched to become aware of surroundings.
May have advanced sense of justice and fairness (and may not be able to understand responses of age peers).
May be strongly motivated to do things that interest him/her, may be unwilling to work on other activities.
May be reluctant to move from one subject area to another, becomes so engrossed in concept that wishes to explore it fully.
Transfers concepts and learning to new situations.
May prefer the company of older children or adults.
May prefer to work alone, resists co-operative learning.
May have wide gaps in abilities or knowledge.
May struggle with easy materials but thrive on complexity.
May have difficulty with handwriting or pencil use. (complains of it being too slow)
May have advanced hand/eye co ordination.
May be emotionally sensitive (high levels of self criticism, may have low self concept and poor peer relations. May ask many questions about pain, death, anger, love).
May like to count, may play with number concepts ( work in bases other than 10 for example).
May choose factual books and dislike fiction and fairy stories.
May collect things.
May have more imaginary friends than regular children and be able to describe them in detail.
May be sought out by other children in leadership situations.

Answer 9

Seems normal to me, aside from the languages, we are not bi or multi lingual family here, my kids have done things of that nature.

Let them set the pace and don't worry if they are ahead or behind. They are what they are. :)

Answer 10

In 10 years, I hope to have a son like you, he is sure one smart toddler.

Answer 11

He's VERY advanced for his age!!! Way to go!!