Is My One Yr Old Creepy?

M.,
Babies develop different skills at different times. My son had 50 words when he was 1, walked at 9mo. and is just a wonderful little guy. There's a huge range of development at this age and nothing you posted sounds out of the ordinary to me. She's probably doing all this brain growing now and then will take a little break while she grows a couple inches. Enjoy the gift of an extraordinary child.
S.

Something that people sometimes forget is that kids are like sponges: they absorb everything. Some faster than others. She's picking up things quickly at the moment, but maybe down the road some things won't come to her so quickly. Who knows? Just enjoy her speedy development and don't read too much into it.

She just might be smart for her age. my son is extremely smart and I am not trying to breg about him, but he will be 3 in Feb. and he was able to say all of his colors at 2 years old, and at 2 yrs, 4 months, he was able to identify every letter of the alphabet, meaning he could spell things out. Now he can count to 10 in spanish. He learned that from Dora and Diego he also is able to identify his shapes, from hexagon, to a circle to trapezoid by the time he was 2 yrs 8 months. She won't be fully developed by the time she is 6, I look at my at son as a smart little boy for his age. I would look at her as a talented smart 1 year old that will be on the ball for anything and absorbs things fast. hope this helps

Your daughter is not creepy. Her advances are not unheard of. You could be describing my second daughter who is now 13. She is well adjusted, smart, athletic, and very quick-witted. Just encourage her to work to her potential, but don't expect too much of her (undue pressure)just because she seems so advanced now.

I read your post somewhat shaking my head and baffled. I find it kind of sad that she is judged so negatively when all she is doing is what she is told and doing all she knows. My daughter walked at 10 months. At 2 she was saying things like - "This food is devine". You should embrace your child and her qualities, not call her creepy or be weirded out. I would be upset with my mother if she referred to my child that way. I mean unless she was wandering arond with a butcher knife with a glazed look in her eyes in the middle of the night: That's creepy.

You are very blessed to have a healthy smart observant child. If that's your biggest worry then you have it great. There are parent's out there that wish they had your issue.

Sounds like very typical childhood development. There is such a range of "normal". Sounds like your little girl is doing good. I'm a child develpment specialist.

M.,
Our 1st daughter walked at 9 1/2 mos., full tilt running at a year. She talked full sentances at a year. She is now 22 and graduating from college. Every child develops at different rates. Our experience with our first born was that she developed faster and spoke earlier than our other two daughters. She was and is very articulate(she has an English minor). I wouldn't worry about anything at this point. Enjoy your time with your daughter and being a mom.

Ginny g

A little about me: Mom of three young women, ages 22, 19 and 17. Enjoying being a mom and amazed at how quickly our daughters have grown up!

It sounds like your daughter is doing great! Our son was the same way at one, everyone always commented on how grown up he was for his age. Since she is your first, you probably spend a lot of time one-on-one with her, so "grown-up" is her frame of reference. It really make life fun when your little one is so smart and advanced!

Hi there M.- as you probably learned during your pregnancy, everyone has an opinion or story. Your daughter is not "creepy", my daughter walked at 10 months as well. Each kid develops at their own rate and based on what you have said about yours, you have a very smart child. You also seem to be relating to her as a person vs a baby and she is learning from you, that's not a bad or "creepy" thing. Enjoy it, it goes soooo fast and they change so much. Hope this helps. Take care!!

I don't think your little girl sounds creepy at all! People have said the same thing to my husband and I about our son, but I always take it as a compliment :) I have a lot of friends with kids around the same age as mine and have learned that they all develop differently. It sounds like you are doing a great job, so keep up the good work!

My two oldest girls walked at about 10 months, and my 8 month old is on track to walk about then, too. My oldest started "spinning" early (and hasn't stoped at almost 4) and my second one had to be just like her sister. My oldest could find any lost object in any room, until she learned how to say "I don't know" and now she can't find anything ever. All kids are different. It sounds like you are doing a great job. Isn't it funny how we mom always have to find something to worry about, even if it's if our kids are "too smart" or talented or whatever. Enjoy your daughter's progress and try not to compare her too much to other kids. (Way easier said than done!)

M.~
Please do not worry!!! My first boy was running by the time he was 10 months old!! And yes your mom's profession might have something to do with her outlook, I am not sure creepy was the word for her to use, though. But, sometimes my mom can also things that if I take them too literally would have me worried too!!! PLEASE, PLEASE there is nothing wrong, just enjoy your sweet Maggie...she sounds like an amazing little girl!!! Don't worry her childhood away!!! From a mom of 3 boys, ages 20, 10, and 9, take it from me, all kids develop differently at this age...and worrying will take the amazingness (is that a word?) out of it for you!!!!

M.,
My daughter also walked when she was 10 months old. Both my children (now 5 & 7) also talked very well very early. By 18 months they were both speaking in full sentences and carrying on very good conversations. That is just the way they are. They are smart, outgoing and very funny. Your daughter may well be too. Be proud of her, enjoy her and don't worry. Worry is for the children who are falling behind in milestones - not chasing them! You child just may be "precocious" like mine. Here is the dictionary definateion - it's flattering.
2 : exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age <a precocious child> .

Have fun with it and be proud.
T.

I think you're right about your mom's job having something to do with her reaction. My SIL teaches ECSE and she was always saying it's crazy to see my son doing things that her students, who are the same age as my son, aren't even developmentally ready for yet.

No. I don't think your daughter is creepy. She's perfectly normal, if you remember, all children develop at different speeds. She's just getting a jump-start on life ~ enjoy it!

You have gotten a lot of replies already but thought I would add mine.

My daughter, who turned 2 in August 2008, seems to be on the same path as your daughter... she walked at 10 months, never took to sign language but starting to use words & sentances at a very early age, and is always months ahead of kids her own age. My mother is a preschool teacher and has seen my daughter surpass some of her kids that are 4 years old. She is just a quick learner so the more I exposer her too the more she wants to learn. On top of that parents and grandparents always think the world of the children, it is natural, and this is what helps children grow.

Ever child has differant speeds of learning, it may peak at some point but they may be a step or two ahead of children the same age because they learn "quicker/differantly." Just nurtuer and love her, it will be great to see what she can do/become later in life.

M.,

It sounds like your Maggie is quite a girl! I, too, had a similar experience with my first. She walked at 9 months and 2 days, she became an excellent communicator using sign language at a very early age, and she hasn't slowed down since. She is now a very delightful 7 yr old and LOVES second grade!

One thing that I have appreciated and would recommnend to you when Maggie gets to school is to look for programs that teach to the level of the child (which does not always mean learning with others from the same grade). My daughter is in a reading group with 3rd and 4th grade students, and really excels.

Keep up all the great work at home!
K.

I don't think it's creepy at all. It's awesome! Isn't it cool that babies are born with the potential to become geniuses (given they don't have brain damage)? I've been noticing a trend among first born children as I talk to more people. I've been noticing that they seem to walk a lot faster than their siblings. I am a first-born and I walked at 9 mos. 10 days. My husband's brother, who is a first born, walked before he crawled. So did I. My son, who is a first born, is only 4 mos. and can already pull himself up to standing by hanging onto our fingers. I think I have talked to others who have said similar things. So, I think there's something there.

One of my friends, on the other hand, had the opposite happen. Her first born girl wasn't as advanced physically as others her age, but mentally she was very smart.

It sounds like you're enjoying motherhood very much, so maybe you'd have fun developing your child even further. Yeah, make her more "creepy", so to speak. If you go to your local library's website or any of the major book vendors online and search for books by Glenn Doman, you'll see what I mean. He basically believes that children have the potential to be smarter than Leonardo DaVinci given the right opportunities. He has the same process as Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, who proved to the world that very small children can learn to play violin (and other instruments). I think giving our child the most opportunities as possible to learn about the world around them every day is one of the greatest gifts we can give as parents.

So, if you think your child is just awesome, you're right! She is!!! Enjoy her. ;)

Hi M.,
I do think that your mom's profession has a lot to do with why she feels your daughter is so advanced. I had taught special education for 6 years when I had my daughter. I, too, felt like she was SOOOO smart! Then I went back to my child development courses and realized that she was developing at a very normal rate. :) Teaching special education really skews your view of normal child development! All of my friends who've taught special ed. have said the same thing. Your daughter is obviously very smart, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned about as she is developing within the norm (just on the early end). She sounds like a great kid! :)

I don't think your one year old is creepy! My daughter hit milestones before any of my other friends kids also; walking at 9 months, talking, even rolling over well before the other kids. She is now 5 and still excels at many things over others, people often tell me she should be at a special school because she is beyond the level of others her age. I just take it in and thank them and appreciate my daughter for being so dang smart! Nothing to be worried about some kids just have an edge on others hopefully she will excel her life as I hope mine will!

Hi M. -
I think your daughter is developing at a normal rate. My first child (dtr) walked at 10 months and my 2nd (boy) did at 11 months. His birthday is very close to your dtr's and he too is twirling and mimicking well. My dtr was not as interested in mimicking us or dancing but my son loves to. Kids are different and develop at different rates. My son can do a few signs but I have not been as consistent with using sign language this time around. I do know that kids are able to use sign language quite early (8-10 months). We have some friends that have deaf parents and they learned early on and their kids were able to pick it up early too. Of course, they used it more b/c they wanted their kids to be able to communicate with their grandparents.
I think you should definitely be proud of your little Maggie but she is not "out of the ordinary." It is so much fun to watch little ones grow and mature. Take it all in and have fun!

Not at all...she sounds a lot like my kids. My oldest boy was talking in sentences by the time he was 27 months old. My 6 month old just started crawling and gets from room to room. All children are different. It sounds like your daughter is a little advanced but certainly not displaying behavior of a 2 or 3 year old. Children learn what they are taught, so if you spend extra time with her, she will pick things up fast and probably be really smart. A person's brain is 95% developed by the time they are 5. That is a lot of learning potential if the opportunities are taken to teach. Enjoy her!!! She sounds like so much fun. THey really do grow up so fast.

L.

my son walked at 7.5 months, used signs for milk, more and please by 10 months, and is now 2 and has a better vocabulary than the kids i have in my child care when they were that age.... BY FAR.

i wouldnt worry at all. kids grow in leaps and bounds, then they have a .... steady period. there will be a while where it seems shes not doing any mental growing at all.
have you seen scrubs? if so, did you see the episode where dr cox's baby was sick with a cold? dr cox was so worried and kept trying to get him in immediatly for a dr appt. the doc told him, basically, youve seen how bad things can get. youve seen the heartbreaking cases of kids being sick and stuff.... but that doesnt mean that will happen to your son. your mom has seen some pretty bad cases. she "knows too much" you know? and shes not hesitant to jump in and assume there could be something wrong with your daughter.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: you know your daughter. you would instinctivly know if something was not right. if you feel something in the pit of your stomach, telling you to take your child into the doctor about this, then do it. theres no harm in making sure all is well either. but honestly, your kid is advanced for her age. so what? its better than being behind. those are the kids that get swept under the rug. however, the advanced kids get in trouble because they get bored... so make sure that you challenge your girl enough in the coming years.

but honestly, theres nothing to worry about. :D

No, I don't think your daughter sounds "creepy" or unusual at all. Both you and your mom should continue to be impressed and marvel at your daughters developments. These early days fly by so quickly. I remember when my nephew climbed up the stairs (with dad right there) when he was 6 months old. We all predicted he'd climb Mt. Everest by age 10. He's only 5 now so it's still possible I guess.

There's nothing wrong with being proud of your daughters achievements. You may want to wait a few years before having her I.Q. tested though ;-)

I hope you have the chance to capture her dance on video - that would be wonderful to share with her when she's older.

I have a creepy toddler!!! My Izzy has been creepy since I brought her home from the hospital. She was just different from my other two girls. As she grew older, she would pick things up, such as recognizing numbers and letters - and I didn't teach it to her! As a 18 mo. old she loved shapes and would point them out her favorite - triangle. Triangles are still her favorite at 2 1/2 and she'll instantly become your friend if you show her a triangle with your hands and tell her, "three sides, three corners - triangle!"

Now at 2 1/2 she has taught herself how to read her favorite things, such as her favorite characters - Dora, Boots, Barney, Wiggles. Recently she showed me how she was putting groups of dinosaurs together to make a large herd - and telling me how many were in her herd (addition).

There is a Twin Cities group of parents of gifted children. MCGT. March 5th at 7:00 pm the Chat Night is focused on gifted toddlers. I've met with this group before and talking to them is very reassuring. They are a wealth of information! www.mcgt.net

I'm a 61 yr. old Grandma of 6,5, & 3 yr. old grandkids. Also, I'm the oldest of 5 myself. I've noticed that first born children have a tendency to do everything early & be more precocious. I've also seen that by about 1st to 2nd grade they've "leveled off" to be more in line with what other kids their age are doing. I think this is because first borns receive undivided attention from parents, grandparents, etc. & therefore, do things earlier. By the time they go to school they are with other first borns, more competition, etc. I've also observed that most new parents think their first child is an "Einstein" (myself included). :)Join MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), play groups, etc., and you'll be more in tune with what is normal and what is not. Time will tell whether your daughter is gifted or not.

N.

YOur daughter is fine! I am a pediatric Physical therapist working in developmental pediatrics, if that helps! I walked at 8 1/2 months (I told my mom she was nuts, but my dad, the engineer, insists that I did indeed walk that early), so if your daughter is "creepy", I'm not sure what that would make me, and I'm "just" a well-educated married mother of 2. I too followed direction well, was reading simple books by 5, etc. Better for your daughter to be a bit ahead of schedule as long as it is coming naturally! Enjoy her and continue to be proud!

I have seen many children who developed early on in many aspects. Your daughter is not creepy, just advanced. My oldest had a large vocabulary by his first birthday and was talking in sentences and singing the alphabet shortly after. My Grandma couldn't believe it when my mom told her about my then-18-month-old 2nd son's personality with strong likes and dislikes. There was nothing abnormal about it. My grandma had just forgotten what toddlers are like. I'm guessing that's how it is with your mom. Her memory of what little ones are capable of has dimmed. Kids have their own strengths and weaknesses. Be grateful for your strong, smart, healthy daughter (I'm sure you are) and, as long as you're not always bragging, don't worry about what other people think.

Well, if your 1 year old is creepy, so are mine. My twin girls are now 19 months old and were doing the exact same things at 1 that your daughter is doing. At 1 they started to help with lots of things around the house. They started throwing their diapers away, helping unload the dishwasher, putting dirty clothes in their hamper or tossing them downstairs (whichever I asked them to do). They also were fascinated with sticking their fingers up their noses. I think your daughter is doing very normal things. We talk to our girls like they are big girls-no baby talking and no babying. I really think the way you talk to your kids and the way you handle things with them truly helps with their development. It sounds like you are doing a terrific job. Try not to make more of it than there is. Have fun with your girl and relish every new 'smart' thing she does.

She's not creepy at all.
I think that your mom was just impressed... especially when she gets to be around mentally handicapped people!
No, she's great.
Even if she's advanced for her age... that's not creepy! At all!
Enjoy all her accomplishments.
Do mention it to the pediatrician so that he can provide you with ways to help her grow and to soothe your nerves. :)

My son is one and does those things too. He just turned one in October, and has been running for a month, walked at 10 1/2 months, dances back and forth in the car to music and when it's on tv, and actually shut the bathroom door one day when I asked him to. He's also very good at taking things to people and putting things back from where he got them. Wish that part lasted into toddlerhood! Enjoy it--she's growing so much and learning so much right now!

It sounds like your dd is right on target, or slightly ahead, with some of these things, but certainly not creepy! I can't imagine using that word about a 1 yo! She is doing what she should be at this age.
S.

Kids develope at different rates and my child could sign at 11 months and quickly learned many more over a years time. She was born 8/04 and mastered 58 signs between 9/05-8/06. I have them listed out in a spreadsheet and counted them. My youngest spoke many, many words by the time she was 1.5 yrs. old. By 1.5-2 yrs. my youngest could follow two part commands like take the red ball and put it on the couch.

My oldest signed very well but talked little at age 1 and my youngest was the opposite but both I consider are smark kids but I'm biased:) Sounds like your daughter is right on if not a bit ahead of other kids her age but I think it varies so much between kids.

Nope, not creepy :) My daughter was walking at 9mo, running at 10mo. and talking by one year. She will be 2 next week and can count to eleven. Totally normal for kids to develope at their own rate!

Don't worry, you have an intellegent child, not a weird one. She seems to have her motor skills down very well. Each child developes in their own terms and what they like is a personal choice also. My oldest son was talking by 6 months and saying full sentences by a year, which a doctor told me was impossible and I was imagining it... until he heard him. He also knew all his colors by the time he was 18 months and could reason by a year also. Although he is now 27 and isn't so good at the reasoning..lol. My daughter talked at 8 months and could out think anyone. My youngest didn't talk until about 3 but had gotten a hold of a screwdriver and proceded to take apart all my kitchen chairs before he was walking. His daughter is 2 now and she went through the dancing (still loves too) and she always stuck her fingers not only in her nose but anyone who was holding her. She also was about 7 months old when she started sucking on her thumb and her mom said "no we aren't going to do that, we aren't sucking our thumb" and she proceded to stick her toe in her mouth and when I said "yuck Emma, that is yucky" she smiled at me and said "mmmm". She also always had an imagination. She wasn't a year yet when she and her mom were at her great grandmas house. My daughter in laws grandmother told my daughter in law that Emma was doing strange things. Watching Emma look through a magazine, she would stop at pages and act like she was picking something up off the page and putting it in her mouth. My daughter in law laughed and said "pay attention to what she is actually doing, she is pretending to eat the food on the page!"

Your daughter is just fine, enjoy her and call your mom on it if she says things like that anymore. There is no reason to worry you about things like that or let your daughter over hear that and make her think she isn't normal.

Hi, I have a 3.5 year old and a niece the same age. We have noticed the same types of things with them, meaning that we feel they are more advanced than they should be at that age. Every time we go to the doctors and she asks if he's doing specific things, we realize he has been doing that for at least several months. I also work in a school as a special education aide and have worked with children with varying degrees of delays in the school as well as intensive in-home therapy with autistic children. Everytime I am amazed at what my son can do, I am grateful that he doesn't have the delays and struggles I see in so many children. Be proud of your daughter and don't worry about what others say!

maggie sounds alot like my oldest son ty. he was talking at 9 mo. by 10 mo he was talking clear sentences. he was also walking by 9-10 mo. running by 1. he had the "foot book" by dr. seuss memorized by 11 mo. and would "read" it back to you word for word and even know when to turn the pages. just to give you the heads up if she keeps going this way ( i would cont. to keep going farther with her!) when she gets to school she could get very bored very easy! that is where we have found the down fall to this! he is now 12 and in the 6th grade and he is doing 8th grade things. but he doesn't want to go up in a grade and he will down play how smart he is cause he gets teased at school for being the smart kid. i told him he needs to be proud of it and run with it and when he is a top dr he can look back and laugh at them when he is older.

i don't think its creepy at all, be proud of who she is and what she can do. it makes the day defantly a blast with all new things they do daily. have fun with her and don't forget to get vidoes that the two of you can watch together when she gets older. ty is still amazed at what he could do when he was little and very proud of it. im sure she will also!

M. - no, your daughter is not creepy and not even all that unusual. Kids develop different skills at different paces. They most all even out by school age. For me, I learned to read (yes full on read books) at 2.5 yrs ... I turned out a-ok! :) Just roll with it and take pride in their accomplishments! My little one is 18 months and is already speaking in sentences. The bad part - we're starting the "terrible twos" a little early, but the good part is finally being able to really communicate with her. Try to find the bright side!

You totally have to tape her dancing!!

No, there's absolutely nothing creepy about your daughter's development. It sounds like she's a hoot; have fun!

No way. She may be a little advanced, not at all creepy. Kids at that age are so vastly different. Even at three years old my son and all his little friends are way different developementally. And it was VERY obvious when they were younger. Just be proud of your daughter and know she's perfect the way she is.