I think I've heard that there could be problems if your kid starts reading before they start talking?
Hi newmom21C,
Kids on the autism spectrum can have unusual language development, including delayed speech but early fixation on symbol systems like writing and math. Part of this cluster also is that their language may tend to be echolalic, i.e. repeating what they've heard (often complex utterances, which fools people for a while). The unifying theme here is that they are treating language as an abstract symbol game, not as a way of communicating. From what you've said, this doesn't sound like your kid.
Meg
Thanks, Meg, for explaining that! DD is Very (very, very) social, so I tend to think that's probably not an issue. Also, in the last few days she's really been putting forth a lot of effort to talk and has been saying a ton of new words, so I'm thinking (and hoping) that I was worried over nothing.
I think you can slow down some kids. I think others are rolling snowballs and it's best to stay out of the way
. Way, way too early to worry about school! Give yourself a break since that endless worry is coming but it doesn't have to start so soon. Just have fun and let her thing and play with stuff she enjoys.
I have a feeling DD is the later, she tends to be pretty persistent about things no matter how many distractions I provide! We've learned the hard way that it is sooooo much easier to follow her lead where ever she may take us.
Yeah, you're right about worrying about school, I guess I'm just worried if we don't have homeschooling as a back-up just in case, you know what I mean?
Like I've posted before, DD is not a big talker and I think I've heard that there could be problems if your kid starts reading before they start talking?
I can't answer whether there will be problems, but my 19 month old DD is very average with her speech but already recognizes some words. There are a few words she recognizes that she can't say, but can either sign or use other indications when she sees them.
One of my sons (now 8) wasn't exposed to letters or words as early as my DD, but when he was 2 he had learned his letters from a peg puzzle and old style fridge magnets. I thought that since he knew all his letters and sounds I would spell a few words out for him. He was immediately able to pick them up out of context. That kinda freaked me out, and I stopped spelling things out and put his magnets away (he had grown out of the peg puzzle). I didn't take the stuff out for nearly 6 months, but by then he was no longer interested and he ended up not really picking up reading again until he was 3.5 years old. He was always rather stubborn that way. I can't say how other children with different personalities would react, but for the time being, I will continue to spell out the words for my DD when she follows me around with the doodle pad until I do.
Thanks for sharing about your kids.
