Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Burning toddler question - shapes / puzzles

I don't think all kids go through this stage (reading backwards, upside down etc.) but probably a subset of self-taught early readers do. It's probably part of the package of their code-cracking and visual-spatial abilities. I would think that a child who learns to read when taught through some process is less likely to do this, even if the read sooner than their peers, or the type of kid who might not read early, but once they learn they really advance quickly past their peers. But I think those kids just learn it differently.

I only have the one kid and she did this. The other cousins are bright but haven't done this (older) and show no signs of heading that way (younger). None of them have any interest in puzzles, building, or mechanics at all. There is probably some link there somewhere.

I love the toast story. My DD went through a stage when she was about 3 1/2 or so where she tried to nibble as many letter shapes as she possibly could out of little twist pretzels. It was totally hysterical.

The funny thing is that I don't think DD is all that visual-spatial. She's sort of high-average at puzzles, for instance--nothing like what's often described here. However, she certainly is awesome at map skills. Both kids are good builders, but not outstanding. DS4 is putting together Lego models labeled for kids 5-7, but occasionally needs help, so I'd say that's high average, but not like super-awesome.

Maybe there are subsets or ranges within the skill type? There is so much we don't know about the brain and learning.

Off topic, but the toast story reminded me that my older sis and I used to bite round cookies into the shapes of little people, then we'd gobble them in one bit and go "ahhh!!" like they were screaming. My mother says now, some of the things we used to do, that she was glad a child psychologist never observed us (we gave our dolls diseases and used to put them in the hospital.) We turned out really well though, not a violent bone in anyone's body.

I would have to agree with ultramarina.

I am above average at puzzles, but horrible with maps/directions.