I just have a random question. My daughter is going to be 2 in a few weeks. She can count to 13 in English. She counts to 20 too, but she skips a few. She can count in Spanish to 11 (thanks Dora!) LOL She recognizes probably 3-4 colors. She knows the rainbow in order. She knows her ABC's, all Nursery Rhymes (even ones I don't know). She's starting to form sentences. She asks a lot of questions like ("what color is this"? and {person's name}...Where are you"?) Is this normal development? Is she "ahead" or is she right on schedule? Are there other things that she should be doing? Oh, also - when should I start potty training? Since I can no longer have privacy when I have to pee, I let her come in because the sound of the toilet used to scare her. Now, I let her listen and flush the toilet so she can understand when she starts to learn. Is this a good thing to do? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
M.
Thanks to both of you. I'll have to check out that book. Katie, I also am a FIRM believer in NO BABY talking. I always hated when my sisters did it. I think it hinders early communication. I speak to my daughter like a normal person and I think it has made her grasp concepts and language better. Like your son did, she uses words like you mentioned in the appropriate contexts. I must say, she learns a lot from Dora. She says "thank you" followed by "gracias". She tells me that certain colors are beautiful and that her meals are delicioso. LOL! I think one of her presents for her b-day will be a potty, so I'm going to get started on that. Thanks to you both.
Hello M.,
I also have a daughter about that age, she is going to be 3 in may. I believe she is developing fine for her age, if not beyond. As to potty training, maybe place a potty in the bathroom with you and when you go sit her on hers. I do that with my daughter and it seems to work. Just let her go on her own, and in time she wil go more. Good Luck! Happy Valentine's Day!
Check out the Baby Book by William and Martha Sears. It's the Bible for baby/infant/toddler care, and goes through developmental milestones in great detail.
I want to say that she is doing a great job, and while I am no expert, I have 4 kids and my youngest is 2 1/2 and she is just now getting to where you daughter is, I think she may be ahead of schedule. Wait to go mom, you are doing a great job. As for the potty training it is never to early to start, with my daughter every time I go in she comes in with me and sits on her own potty. She thinks it’s funny to hear pee hitting the water. By doing this she has started telling me that she has to go potty, and even if we sit in there for 20 minutes and she doesn't go, just to stand up and pee in her pull-up, she is getting the idea. She has gone in the potty both 1 and 2 and she gets so proud of herself. From watching me too, she wipes and I know this sounds dumb but it is so cute to watch her wipe and then stand and put it in the potty. I am very proud of her and every time she does it I reward it with her, whether it is a big hug and throwing her in the air telling her what a big girl she is, to painting a picture she loves the attention and tries very hard to please me. While yes privacy at this stage in the game is next to 0. It is good to let her know to be comfortable in front of you so later on any issues can be discussed. Anyway I am done rambling, just keep up the great work and you and she will be fine.
It sounds like she's ahead of most 2 year olds. You can go to babycenter.com and find out exactly where the average 2 year old should be with milestones.
I'd like to share with you: http://www.whatisec.com/ It's a page that will tell you about early potty training. I started my 3 year old on learning about the potty when he was about 8 or 10 months old. I figure they are getting used to the diaper or using the potty and being taken to the potty. Just if she shows resistance to the potty, then to take a break. Mostly listen to your daughter's signals. I encouraged my son to use the potty, never pressured or threatened or punished for mistakes. He's been using the potty for about a year and 1/2. Though he's getting better and better at it.
Holly
HI M., I also have a 2 year old, well, will be on the 22nd of Feb. He goes to daycare 2 days a week and he is not speaking anywhere near what your daughter is. I still get alot of the pointing and uh uh's, but the words he does speak are very clear. I have never spoke baby talk to him nor anyone else in the family, we do read alot to him and he loves reading on his own and we are constantly using the words that he is pointing to but still not much at all. He started walking about 9 months as well and never did the crawl thing until after. I know my son is no where near ready for potty training but one thing I did with my daughter was made a big deal about the pretty panties that she could wear and let her pick them out. Also, ask her if she needs to go potty and maybe you will get the response you are looking for. Also, when she is ready, just put the panties on and make sure she understands that there is no more diaper. My daughter was basically trained in a weekend...just keep at it. Good Luck.
Hi M.!
I had the same questions with my son at age 2. He was way ahead of the other kids in his play group. He was using words like delicious and hysterical and using them in the correct context. He was always ahead of the other kids his age, rolling over, sitting, crawling early and walking by 9 months. I never talked to him in "baby talk" when he was an infant and I think that had a lot to do with it, I also read to him since before he was born. He is 7 now and in 1st grade, and is reading at or slightly above grade level. I'm not saying that he's a genius but he's definately ahead of most of the kids in his class. I suggest you encourge her by reading to her,singing songs...etc. As for the potty training...My son was difficult at that. He was ready by 2 1/2 and almost done with it when my mom died suddenly, so I wasn't in any form for following through with it. He was fully trained by age 3. I would start introducing her to it now. Even if it's just once or twice a day, just to get her acquainted with the concept. She may not be really ready but it's not to early to start. You'll know when she's ready when she stays dry all through her naps and even at night.
I hope that I was of some help.
K.
Hi M.! I think it sounds like Sydney is reaching all her milestones right on cue or even a little early. I am a dance teacher for pre-schoolers and many little girls begin dancing at 2 1/2 so I work with them on reaching physical milestones like jumping on both feet, hopping on one foot(around age 3), gallops, skipping(some don't achieve this until age 5), and bend, stretch, twist and other basic body movements. I also teach colors, letters, numbers, shapes, and body parts in the preschool class. She sounds like at almost 2 she is ready to join in with other pre-schoolers so in September she will be right on track to begin pre-school or a recreational class like dance, karate, gymnastics, or sports. as for potty training, I would go ahead and try it! Personally I think I'll train my son when he is around 2 because as a teacher I'll have time to spend with him all day everyday the in the summer and with fewer clothes to deal with in the summer I assume that would make it easier! Good Luck!
She sounds right on track for her age. Kids develop at different levels. But she falls well within the norm for her age. As for the potty training, it all depends on when your ready to start her. We haven't really started potty training our 2 1/2 yr old son. We try to get him to go on the potty but we're really not pushing the issue. We figure he'll do it when he's ready.
hi M., it sounds like your daughter is doing great, and like you are doing a great job with her too. and if she is interested when you go to the bathroom, i would just put a potty in there and see what happens, especially when she goes in with you, i bet she will just start to copy you and do it on her own.
i just wanted to say something about milestones ...it is very easy to get all caught up in when our kids "should" be doing things, some people get absolutely nuts with the milestones, though more so when their kids are on the other end of it, and not ahead like yours. just remember that all kids are different, the milestones are very broad, or they should be, anyway. i would ignore any charts that give too narrow of a margin. there is a very wide range or "normal", it really breaks my heart when i see people getting all crazy about their kids not being where they "should" be (to a point, of course, you cant ever ignore things that need attention), or even worse, making the kids crazy by pushing too hard. when she goes to school, you want her to still be interested and have things to learn, kids that are bored in school often have just as many problems as kids who are struggling to keep up, and they are even often misdiagnosed with various things. it sounds like your daughter is doing just fine, keep doing what you're doing and keep it fun, it sounds like you are doing a great job. take care, D.
It doesn't suprise me as much as watching a 3 year old singing a whole song by herself. The adult choir that was supposed to back her up did terrible but she sang her song. What it shows is that you took alot of time with your child and yes she is doing well keep up the great work you are doing with your child. I commend you. My graandson is about to be two and the only thing i have heard him say is grandma. I keep asking my daughter to please work with him.
Great job.
