[ASheppa0821]

Recently, a friend of mine posted a video on Facebook of her 17 month old child counting to 10 unassisted. She has spoken in full sentences since she was 15 months old and is, in my opinion, very advanced. I googled and searched all over the net on the average age for a child to count to 10 and know their alphabet. I couldn't believe how many mothers said their child counted to 10 by 18 months and could recognize all their letters. I knew them at that age, but I was also completely potty trained (at night, too) at 18 months, walked early, etc. I just did everything early. I was automatically thinking that kids learned that stuff around 2 1/2 or 3. Now, I'm starting to doubt myself. Emma jibber jabbers, but she barely has much of a vocabulary, let alone knowing all that stuff.

Am I being unreasonable, or not expecting enough? Emma just hasn't been really ready to talk yet, so how can I expect her to know this stuff? I work with her as much as I can until I feel like we're both fried... And we watch all kinds of learning videos and work together as we watch them. She's great at knowing objects by name, but I just don't know if I should be working harder than I am...???

I feel like such a failure...

[KR258]

I don't think you should feel like a failure. Katelyn loves to learn and still doesn't know those things. She counts but its all out of order. She says abc's but doesn't pronounce most of them properly. There is nothing wrong with Emma not knowing those things yet or not being interested. She has more important things to do! Katelyn knows alot of words but usually just talks baby talk. She says random words that you think she doesn't know in the middle of her baby talk. I think that by 3 they will probably know...and be able to tell us. I personally wouldn't worry until she HAS to know it to go to school. Play with her and use the numbers, colors, and shapes...and alphabet and she'll get it when she's ready. Don't overwork her now though.

Also singing is what works best for Katelyn to learn things...and if it has hand motions it's even better for her but everyone learns differently.

[mcmama]

I was the mother of one of those children. He counted everything. Loudly. He spelled out every sign. Loudly. Do you know how annoying it is to be on a city bus with a 21 month old who is shouting above the traffic noise "S-T-E-P -B-E-H-I-N-D-T-H-E-Y-E-L-ANOTHER L-O-W-L-I-N-E --Hey what dat say? What dat say?"

He wanted to take apart the TV set to find where Vanna White was hiding.

The other one could have cared less. Didn't have much to say.

The older one LOVED reading. The younger one hated it. But he liked being read to. So when he had to read, he would really buckle down and concentrate.

They both did real well in school. The older one got into gifted programs because identifying him was a no brainer. The younger one we thought was a bit behind because he was so quiet, but by the end of kindergarten he was doing second grade level math, and asking for more challenges. The older one has a masters degree from Columbia and is job hunting. The younger one is starting out at the US Coast Guard Academy. So they both did well.

Don't worry about this. It is not a race. The important thing is that Emma loves reading, loves to think and solve problems, and isn't shy about showing off what she can do.

[LovingJesusinAZ]

Don't sweat it . . . as Janet said . . . it's not a race.

Joshua turned 2 in August and is just starting to count. Alphabet? Forget it. He absolutely loves to be read to so I do that all the time. He is insanely curious and knows what objects are, but isn't interested in learning numbers, letters, or colors. We were at Target a few weeks back and as I was making my way through the store he started saying "Daddy's Coffee Pot" I looked up and we were walking past the coffee makers and he saw one just like the one we have at home. He may not know his colors, but he knows what kind of coffee pot Daddy uses

I figure I'll just keep reading to him and encouraging him with that, talking about colors while he's playing with his Lego's, etc. and letting the rest come as he shows interest.

[purelegance]

i really really really REALLY wouldn't worry about it. Izzy is 14 months and doesn't speak a whole lot of words, she can say some - but not a whole lot. she has said a few sentences but probably only 5 or 6 times. She's probably behind for speech, but until she's 2-2 1/2 and still not speaking a whole lot, i'm not worried. she's pretty advanced in everything else, it's just her speech that's behind. (which is our fault, we concentrated on teaching her how to do things instead of speech, ABCs & 123s)

i honestly believe that one day, clear out of no where, the kid is just going to start talking and won't shutup. she knows what we're talking about, i just don't think she's tried speaking our language (vs. baby language) because she doesn't have to. We understand her so we don't push her.

[DK615617]

We are in the same boat! Tiffany is 21 months and barely says anything. She has a few words Momma, Dadda, Dah-da-da (The dog, Nevada) Woof, bubbles and Oh-oh. But that is it. There are no numbers, no colors....but we focused more on things like jumping, and running and jumping on the trampoline, wrapping up her baby doll in a blanket, hugging the dogs, stacking........but didn't talk to her much early on. (oops) I feel bad that she doesn't know her numbers and stuff yet, but on the other hand does it really really matter??? We have years to go before they will have to know this stuff, and they are sponges, they'll get it when they are good and ready to. So don't ever worry about it!!!!
You are a good momma!!!!
I really worry that I am putting Tiffany at a disadvantage cuz we do no TV at all for her. No videos at all. So it will be up to me to teach her the numbers and letters the old fashioned way!

[Tracey with 6]

do you want a child or a parrot? I think alot of early counters are just parroting what they hear, and that is not true learning, do they have any concepts to go with that counting?probably not, my eldest is and advanced child and always has been, reading wind in the willows at 4 and counting early too, but not 18 months, lets let babies be babies, they are older for alot longer, cherish their moments of innocccence when playing is playing and not push them too much!

[DivasMomma]

Jaecy is and always was VERY advanced for her age...same as you she was potty trained by 18 months, had a 50 word vocabulary at her 1st bday check up, speaking in sentences very early on....knew how to count to 20 in English and 10 in Spanish by 17 months....just very advanced.

Now i have Kaydee...lol not to laugh at her, but compared to Jaecy I dont know WHAT happened lol...she will be on and still can only say MUM and sometimes she will blurt out dada but I think on accident.

I think every kid will do things in their own time, no matter how hard we as parents push them. Jaecy watches A LOT of TV and I think thats where she learns everything from. I have tried sitting and teaching her, but she gets frustrated and doesnt want to do it. So, TV it is. Dora taught her Spanish, Sesame Street taught her jsut about everything else lol

[kalhayd2]

Kasia:
We're a no TV household, too. I think it allows for more imagnative play. She'll catch on when she needs to.
K's not a big talker either. She "talks" all day but it sounds like Japanese..

[LovingJesusinAZ]

We were a no-TV household until a few months ago. Now it's like one or two shows/day at the most (DS is 2yrs, 2mo)

I didn't "focus" on anything---I just kind of let him be him. I heard something last year and I don't remember the exact stats, but it was from a PhD and Dad of 4 adult children (and Grandpa to 2 little ones) who said that it doesn't matter when your child learns stuff---by 4th grade it all evens out. That was kind of my attitude anyway, but now I have a PhD telling me it's ok

DS knows body parts and that's about it Yes, we've worked on counting, and have started with colors, but that's about it. I agree with Tracey---there's plenty of time for them to learn--we should just let them be babies and toddlers for now. Soon enough they'll be "too smart for their own good" so we should enjoy these years where they don't (and dont think!) they know everything!