My son just turned four and constantly shocks us with what he can remember. He can tell you the color of relative's cars that he has only met once. If I place a toy somewhere and he doesn't play with it he can remember where it is months later. He remembers details about people that lived in our neighborhood before we moved states a year ago. His preschool teacher makes comments about the stories he recalls. If he watches a movie or cartoon once he can recall the beginning, middle, and end and include details of what happened. Just wondering if this is normal for his age? He doesn't have much of an interest in the academics of preschool so maybe if he has a good memory he will have a little advantage in school!
My daughter can recall stories from when she was 2...no idea how she remembers them (because half the time I forget!). In answer to your question, I think it is kind of "normal". In talking to my mom about it, she says that my sister and I did the same things with we were about 4 or 5!
My kid is 6 and the stuff he remembers amazes me. I wish he didn't sometimes, because we adopted him at 3 and I wish he had no memory of foster care (it was scary for him). His teacher says the same thing about stories. He hears a song once and can remember a lot of it. If we've driven somewhere, he remembers it. My 13 yr old & my 10 yr old couldn't get you out of our neighborhood hardly and we'll be in the car in an area we rarely go and my 6 yr old will say "remember when we turned on that path (that's what he calls roads) to get to so-and-so. It always blows our minds that he remembers. I could remember numbers like crazy as a kid. If you gave me your phone number, I remembered it for years. Or if you flashed numbers in front of me, I could visualize them and tell you what they were. It wasn't until I hit my 30's that that started to fade. Now, I have to program my phone with numbers or else I will forget them. So, I would say it's not abnormal. It's a good thing.
L.
I have three children...and only one of them did that. It's rather remarkable to see how much children do really remember. My son has an amazing ability to memorize things. I found out that this is a coping mechanism for him. He has ADD and it's really hard for him to concentrate on things that don't involve the TV or computer, things that engage his brain that way. It has definitely helped him in school and he can use all the help he can get! We didn't diagnose him (get him tested with the school and his doctor, and specialists)until the 2nd grade. Watch for this with your little one. Kids are truly amazing!
I have noticed my kids remember a lot more than we do, and that as they've gotten into their teens that seems to lessen. Someone once said its because they have less to interrupt the long term memory the way adults do. But, it is possible your son has high intellegence. My 3 kids have high IQs. I'm not bragging, they just do and its been a real learning experience for me. They were obviously bright as toddlers, but it wasn't until trouble started that I educated myself and learned that they had needs beyond the obvious, and that their abilities didn't mean they'd do well in school. So if you think he may have more than just a good memory, you may want to look into it before he begins in school. Northville probably has good programs for "gifted" (My son hates that word because he wishes he was like every body else. How sad is that?) There's a ton of literature but this link takes you to some characteristics to look for in young kids. I can share more sites if you think he fits the description. I wish I had started earlier!
http://www.brainy-child.com/expert/early-signs-giftedness...
