We're going to the pediatrician tomorrow for DD 22 months. We haven't been since she was 15 months. DD has me totally confused... I can't decide if she is just a bright toddler experiencing asynchronous development, or if I should be watching for something. Everyone keeps saying it is good to catch problems early...
She has hit many 36 month milestones, but won't even attempt two syllable words. She mainly uses vowels, with an occasional m, b, or d sound. She will sign sentences "mommy. milk. points to my chest. please." While saying "eee" for please or "mii?" for milk.
She also freaks out a lot when we are in new surroundings and is terrified of men - even ones she knows, except her dad (and some women, too.) We took her to the mall in a stroller once and she ended up hyperventilating for 20 minutes because too many people smiled at her. And I *do* take my kid out of the house, too! Every new situation usually leads to her clinging to me and crying if anyone makes eye contact. It takes 30-40 minutes for her to relax, and then sometimes she is OK. ;-\
Before 18 months, she knew all her upper and lower case letters and the ASL signs for each. She began trying to write letters at 18 months, now draws squiqqles and circles and sometimes tells me they are things - like "shoe" or "dog".
Recognizes three sight words that I know of: hi, baby, and dog. We taught her them. Recognizes most numbers up to 10 - counts to 2, sometimes 3.
Always pointing out letters and numbers everywhere, even shapes of other objects that look like them (like noticing a tiny cut on her leg looked like an "A".)
Over 350 ASL signs (including letters) by 18 or 19 months. Lost track. I stopped teaching her signs, but she just makes up her own or improvises instead of talking. Won't copy anything I say unless we "sing" with her. Then she mimics what we sing - like "bababa". She sings all day long and that's the only "babbling" she does. She signs a word - like "kite" and will say "ie!" She knows the sounds of a few letters - like says "Sssssss" for s, but doesn't try to say "sss" with any words.
Figured out jigsaw puzzles at 20 months. Now she can do 9-12 pc by herself and helps us put together 24-48 big floor puzzles with a little guidance - even new ones she's never seen. I am amazed at how she sees a tiny part of something and correctly names (signs) it.. like she knows the bottom of an owl is an owl, or that a piece of a dress is a princess.
I'd say she's had a bit of an obsession with letters and puzzles.
Lots of pretend play. Very social - not a lot of "side by side" toddler play. Once she gets comfortable in homeschool group, she watches all the kids and then always tries to recruit them to do what she wants to do (a tea party, a puzzle, ring around the rosie, swing her on the swing, etc.) But she signs to them and they don't know sign language. I've never had to ask her to share and she doesn't get upset when another child steals her toys.
Can match up colors perfectly but I don't know if she has the names down right. 95% potty trained. Goes on her own to the small potty.
Has started calling all writing and words "M" and will turn over toys and objects looking for the writing on the bottom (like Made in China).
Follows new and unique directions.. ask her to put away plastic blocks and building pieces she's only seen once and played with once in the preschool room, and she goes around the room searching only for the plastic pieces (which are mixed in with other junk) that go in the bin, fills it up, and puts the lid on, carefully avoiding things that don't go, like a toy car.
Does any of this raise any red flags for you? I don't want the NP to think I'm being totally ridiculous, but I also don't want to miss anything. And everyone in my family is a little concerned by her lack of trying to say whole words.
Last edited by islandofapples; 09/26/12 07:29 AM.
