2.5 yr old intelligence-Is this normal???

[KingstonMom]

In response to your original post, yes he sounds gifted. With that said I think working on his social development is key, as with all little ones his age. I wouldn't try and overload him with learning but let him lead you. How are his fine motor skills?

Hi fine motor is excellent, we often string beads and also have small, interlocking games they enjoy playing with.
He enjoys playdoh, beading, painting, gluing, anything artsy.
He does not, however have the ability to print letters or do much more than a circle on paper.
His pictures are very scribbley.

[daycarewhisperer]

Hi fine motor is excellent, we often string beads and also have small, interlocking games they enjoy playing with.
He enjoys playdoh, beading, painting, gluing, anything artsy.
He does not, however have the ability to print letters or do much more than a circle on paper.
His pictures are very scribbley.

Okay I get what you are saying. I think his skill set is possibly on the high end of normal but I don't see it as being too extraordinary. He is recognizing and memorizing symbols and sequences. I've seen that before many times.

From what you have said in my home I would focus on him free playing toys such as duplo blocks, lego blocks, primo blocks, cardboard blocks, playmobil, potato head, lincoln logs, cars, trains, doll house, kitchen etc. I wouldn't have him play with things that have numbers or letters on them. I would have him play regular toys and see if he were able to entertain himself without the sorting and symbols. I would stay OUT of that play too. I would mix him with the other three year olds (I'm assuming they are the ones he is not choosing but rather the way older kids) and see how he plays REGULAR toys.

I don't see the crafty stuff being unusual. Most kids his age would dig doing that stuff if they had an adult playing with them.

I would also focus on exercise........ tons of it. Have him go outside every day for a good long walk and have a big lunch meal. I would not do ANY symbols or sequencing with him anywhere near nap time. He may be getting escalated with that activity and you are putting him to bed with a racing mind. Make sure he has "go play toys" with little to no adult for at least an hour or so before lunch. If you are going to "work" with him do it long long long before nap or after nap. Have him exercise, eat good, and free play with his age mates before nap so he gets his mind settled and is open to pure deep sleep. I would not allow him up at all during nap. A couple of hours of sleep in a pitch black dark room every day no exceptions.

If he is gifted these fundamental activities for a two year old will compliment his giftedness far better than crafting or "school". He has a baby body and he has playmates. He needs to have his focus being on good food, good sleep, good play, and good exercise. He seems like he has a ton of adult at home so as little adult as possible at your house and as much age mate, food, sleep, and regular toys will balance him out.

One of my truly gifted kiddos was with me for five years from birth to kindy. She just won second place in a math basic skills testing for our entire district. We are a town of a half million people so our school district is big. She was able to do all these things at that age and began handwriting around then...... but she was an amazing toy player and played with ease going from any age group. She pplayed as well with the one year olds as she did with the kids older than her. She ate great, exercised, and took long naps every day. She's nine now and still takes a nap on the weekends. What makes her so phenomenal is that she excelles in every single subject, health, wellness, friendship etc because she has had a group of adults who want her to be balanced. She would have never been allowed to go in one way only..... all aspects of her life including sleep, eating, exercise are just as important as her academic prowess. Her ability to adapt and be flexible has served her so well.