Our experience won't help as we started early with socialization, using a parent/child playgroup throughout the one year and then put her in a 3/4 day playgroup at 2. As an extrovert, she needed the interaction.
I did the potty training at 22 months, the 3 day method. She was smart enough to get it, though it took me 2 of the 3 days to figure it out. The resistance in these types of kids seems to build as they get older. DD is now 5 and I use much "adult" explaining when I want her to do things. No more "cajoling" except on the fruit and veg consumption. We find it works better to talk it out with reason.
We started the piano at her 4th birthday, though we had wanted to wait. But we were pushed by the music school for almost a year to start with her. It is a pain since I must practice with her, no kid likes to practice everyday, or rarely does a kid like to practice everyday. But I do talk over with her the need for her to learn to be a tortoise since so many things come so easily for her. And although DD started doing math in her head at 2, she seems to do it now as a hobby now to amuse herself, and I think the music helps with the brain development there.
Although it is her nature to be fast, she seems to have pretty good habits now that she has more than a year of piano under her belt. Her handwriting is great. Her coloring and drawing have greatly improved. She takes her time. I never thought she had artistic talent and am amazed at what she produces now.
But I do have to work with her on technique when she does her piano practice. Kids that have ability can easily just memorize the notes and play the piece, though not how it should be played. Getting them to make the minor corrections so that it has the "flavor" of what the composer wanted and not just the notes is what gives her good habits and that is a real test on me. But being one that didn't develop good habits, it is my goal to help her learn to be a tortoise and so I sit with her and practice everyday and work on her technique. I will be glad when this phase is over.
Between this and the puppy training, I think I want to jump into the Hudson river sometimes. There are many times of standing up and counting to 10.
