Learning question...

I hesitate to ask this because I don't want to seem like a braggart mom...but her 2 year ped appointment is in three weeks and I would love some input.

I cannot keep up with her, she is so fast in learning and I want to make sure she is properly stimulated. I watched her count to twelve on the abicus tonight and I am determined to make sure she gets "the right" stuff for her abilities. Many people are asking me for toys she can get for her b-day and I just don't know.

Any suggestions?

She can count to twelve.
Knows how to sing ABCs and some letters.
Speaks full sentences, ask questions, Says please, thank you, and your welcome at appropriate times.
"reads" her books
knows most animals
can sing a song after hearing it one or two times.
can throw, catch and kick a ball

and random stuff that makes me stop and look at her like "hello, you're TWO!"

like I said originally, this is not a OMG my child is so smart, it's an OMG, help, she is smarter than me.

Don't even get me started on her fearlessness either (this truly terrifies me) she fell in the ocean face first today and when DH quickly grabbed her she yelled "Shake it Off" and shook her arms and body like DH taught her. I was actually hoping THAT would scare her a little

Re: Learning question...

I dont have any recommendations on toys..but I just have to say the "shake it off" comment is just too funny!!!


to Bella for being such a bright little girl!!!

Re: Learning question...

I don't have any recommendations either but my cousins do the same thing with their three boys.

These kids are so trained that even if they really hurt themselves they will turn to each other and say "You're alright - Shake it off" - it's the funniest thing!

Re: Learning question...

She sounds so smart and precocious too. I love the "shake it off" comment. That's too funny. I have no suggestions, but she sounds like such a character.

Re: Learning question...

She sound like a very smart 2 year old. I love the "shake it off" comment. That is adorable.

Re: Learning question...

what a smart little girl you have!!! I dont have any input for you unfortunately, hoping a few BTDT Mommys do though!

Re: Learning question...

We do shake it off too. Works like a charm until you whack your head really hard & your 3 year old says "Shake it off Mommy"

I guess it depends on what you want her to learn, what her interests are. We teach more than we probably should but figure they'll get it eventually.

For example, when Joseph asks where does it go when the potty flushes, I brought him down to the basement & explained the pipes, cesspool, etc. When he went for his eye test, he couldn't identify the symbol as a flag until I said "It's probably not American"

In terms of toys, we had a lot of books - tons of books. At 3 years old, we would play Trouble (they learn counting), Chutes & Ladders, Candy Land. He loved Lite Brite.

DVDs - I bought Muzzy - which teaches them Spanish. It's a very cute DVD & if I could get step by step instructions on ripping & copying, I could burn you one or if you have a burner.... (They're expensive to buy).

Maddie is a girl-girl & into dress-up, princessy stuff. To balance that out, we read Pippi Longstocking. The charater is rude to adults & breaks the rules but in the end, she's a strong willed little girl so Maddie relates & loves the stories.

Does she like music? science?

Re: Learning question...

bumping for more input...

and Thanks Barb, see I am just at a loss to where her interests lie. She loves playing pretend (with her little people--we have so many different versions of it) and then she'll randomly play with the abicus like last night for ten minutes, or sit with her million books and "read" then to herself for a half hour, she does love music and dancing. I am not sure about science--what can I get her that would gage that.

I do know that she'll ask questions and really listen to what you have to say. She is interested in my computer, but is it too early to get a laptop.
She loves to color...

I am just unsure of what to do moving forward.

Re: Learning question...

as far as a toy, I know it says ages 3 but maybe bella is ready for it..the fisher price bike toy that has a learning game attached to it for the TV looks great.

Re: Learning question...

Love the "shake it off" - I have to teach that to Alex!

Alex and Bella are long lost twins Our pediatrician has been telling us from day one that Alex is precocious, and that we need to make every effort under the sun to effectively stimulate her.

I know I don't do enough, but here are some of the things we do - adding a caveat here, Alex just isn't into girly things, and won't sit still for anything for too long. We have to find more interactive, physical, hands-on activities to really engage her -

-We play outside A LOT. I bought her outside sidewalk paint and chalk, and that will entertain her for a little while

-Nature walks - every night we take a walk and point out everything in our path, pick up little bugs, leaves, etc., and examine them and talk about them

-Books - lots of flap books - she loves them

-Music - big fan - we'll dance around to the music, and I bought some little instruments for her that we'll play together

-She had SO much fun at the aquarium, I can't even begin to tell you. I'm making more of an effort on the weekend to take her places with me. Even if it's just shopping at the supermarket - we go through the aisles and she picks out the items she knows. Or we'll go clothes shopping, and I'll let her pick 3 things she wants to take home. It really engages her.

-We have a place here called the Please Touch Museum with all kinds of interactive things - they have a play supermarket area, a play garden area, a play zoo area. At the supermarket area they have little carts, and little plastic items are lined up on the shelves and they can go "shopping" - she loves it.

Hmmm, all I can think of for now. All I can say is, for us, traditional toys just don't cut it. They are boring for her and she loses interest very quickly so we try to find ways to do more interactive games, chores, play outside more, etc.

Good luck!!

Re: Learning question...

My DD just turned 2 last month and she sounds almos exactly like your dd. (My DS on the other hand, um, not as quick a study!). In any event, there are a few things we have that she asolutely loves...

1) we have an a-z book series where the whole book is dedicated to one letter and at the end they name other things that begin with that letter. For example, last night we read "The K Book" and at the end they have kimono, koala, katchup etc. She loves these books and her vocabulary is unbelievable from them. She can identify every single book by name.

2) Instruments - we have a drum, shakers, mini-guitar etc and she will dance all around the play room and then take one of her dolls and dance with them

3) Arts and crafts - she is obsessed with those puffy shapes that you can stick onto paper? We call them animals b/c that the tub I bought. She names them all, including Noah and his Ark. Go to Michaels - thats where I got these and it gave me great ideas about what else to get for her. She also loves markers, colored pencils etc.

4) We enrolled her in one day a week pre-school this year for 2 year olds. I figure they can further stimulate her with finger painting, more blocks than I have ever seen and they even have two guinea pigs.

5) Lastly, do you sing with her? Everytime we go in the car, we sing. She makes up her own lyrics to wheels on the bus (i.e. the bird on the bus goes tweet tweet tweet ) and I encourage her to make up new ones too.


HTH. Its amazing how much they are little sponges. The best you can do it keep providing them with new stimulating experiences.

Re: Learning question...

Ok here's something really lame but has mulitple uses.

A deck of cards.

It has the number of hearts on it, so she can count & see the number on it.

You can play Concentration with it. We were shocked that Maddie could remember where cards were better than any of us.

You can build card houses (helps with dexterity)

As she gets older, you can add up cards for multiplication.

Later on, show her how to smile & use her charms to clean out the guys at the World Series of Poker Championship.