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Child development is as individual as every child is. There are certainly "milestones" and "averages", but there are always children who develop more quickly and some that are slower. At 16 months, your daughter's language would be considered advanced, but is not necessarily unusual. My middle daughter developed language early and spoke in sentences at 14 months. Some children are indeed "gifted", but it would be a bit too soon to reliably use this term with your daughter. Everyone, children and adults alike, have a preferred style of learning. Your daughter's style of cognitive learning is likely active experimentation which lends itself well to learning quickly as a toddler. On the other hand, the 18 month old you care for is likely developing at exactly the speed that is right for his individual needs. He may very well be more of a reflective observer. He is learning, but in a different way than your daughter. It is hard not to do so, but comparing development of children of similar ages is going to usually show some glaring differences. Much goes on in the growth and development of a child in his/her first 5 years of life. If a child speaks early or walks early or knows their alphabet by the time they are 2, it is most likely that by first grade you would not know the difference between her and a child who didn't walk until 18 months or speak until 2 or know his alphabet until kindergarten.

Congratulations! You do have a gifted child. Encourage her gently and continue whatever it is you're doing - I believe that it's part mommy and part baby when children are advanced.



I also agree with the above poster about how each child is individual with their learning and particular capabilities. 'Gifted' means many things.

I would be inclined to say yes....this also could be that you spend more time with your child than the other mother/father does with their child.I'm guessing your a stay at home mother"omestic engineer"Children are smarter than some think all they need"i believe" is the stimulation to excel their intelect.Your obviously a involved+good mother.Keep it up continually challenge her and she will continue to grow.

Probably. But you can always go take a test, just to make sure. Unfortunately you have to pay for it, but its worth it! Cause if you already have an idea that she is, and you want to make sure, and it turns out....well...she IS gifted, you can go to all these schools and stuff just for gifted children

Don't compare the boy you babysit to your child. All kids have personalities and I don't believe he has a learning problem.. Your child is just more sociable and likes to talk. All parents believe that there kids a smart, I did and they were not gifted after all.

She's very smart. But I wouldnt say gifted. Kids are very smart these days, and not all pick up or show interest as soon as others, which is why the child you sit probley doesnt do those things yet. But it doesnt mean he's not as smart.

Your child is very gifted!

Start teaching her more things.. Numbers Etc.



You are very lucky, even if people say that shes advanced for her age don't stop and just think its a funny thing, start her from an early age and she could be a genius!

My daughter was like that as well, she is 5 now but for years people have been telling me she acts at least 3 years above her chronological age. I never thought about if she was gifted or not, didn't want to start labeling her as anything.

She is smart.



Sometimes kids like that are Autistic but you said your daughter is sociable. She is not Autistic then.



You have a smart child!!

Wow! You must've raised her really well! I'd say you have a gifted child, but don't be surprised if it slows down a bit as she gets older.

Your 18 mo baby is normal and your 16 mo baby is gifted.. you should take her to one of those gifted children centres and get her assessed. goodluck and be proud!

Do not use the word "gifted". You sound like an idiot and using it will stifle your child's growth.

I really think she is a gifted child to you!!! Be Proud of her.

May God Bless her and be with her as it is and always.

gifted child. really you should be proud!

yea shes gifted. she will be a genius when she gets older hah

I've wondered the same thing about my daughter (21 mths). Since she was 17 mths, she's been saying 3 word sentences, whizzes through puzzles, stacks blocks 7 or 8 high, knows the primary colors, and she can count to 12. Some kids learn faster than others, and some parents don't believe children this young can learn so much so they don't practice with them. I just see you as an attentive mother who sees your daughter's strenghts and you are helping her develop them as fast as her little brain will help her. Kuddos to you

EVERYONE thinks their child is gifted. Some kids just catch on earlier than others. My son was reading my novels with me at the age of 4, yet hes not gifted. I just worked with him alot and make learning fun. Once she gets school age, you can have her tested (schools provide this service) and she will be placed accordingly. Surprisingly however: (I worked for the state gifted program) most children are not gifted. They are few and far between. Most who are tested turn out to be just average IQs and others may be a little advanced and placed in AP classes. Dont compare your children. Some are quick to learn...some are not. Some are more sociable (the reason for her playing more, talking to her dolls, etc), some are introverted. All kids are different. If you are sincerely concerned about the younger one, consult your pediatrician, but Im willing to bet its his personality. Give it some time....boys are waaaay different...he'll snap out of it!

Your daughter sounds like a smart kid. Keep engaging with her and she should go far in life. Kids usually don't start being able to do all those things really well until they are about 2 1/2 (at least that's what I could tell when I used to work at a preschool)



The other little boy is probably still on the "normal" spectrum, but maybe his parents don't engage and play with him enough. Although it can be said that Einstein didn't really talk until he was 5, and his early teachers thought he was retarded. It could just be his personality.



Just tread carefully when labeling kids. They can be really damaging. I would just do your best to make sure that she stays stimulated.

She's definitely smart - are you a stay at home mother, and if so then she's probably had a lot of attention from you, which certainly helps with early development. All kids develop at their own pace though - maybe the little boy you babysit hasn't had so much attention focussed on him, or maybe he's just not interested in the same things as your daughter.



A tip though - don't use the word 'gifted' when you're talking to other parents. That could be seen as smug and a bit of a put down to them.