A bit stumped by this

[Karena]

(this is not suppose to be a brag post, more of a what do I do thread)

Yesterday I had Brock sitting on the bench while I got dinner ready, he grabbed the note pad and a pen that were on the bench. When I have got things organised I started working with him as he drew. I then noticed that he was holding his pen in a perfect tripod grip. I hadn't noticed before but when I mentioned it to H he said he had noticed it last week.

I was stunned, in all my years of teaching young children I have never had one as young as Brock, 19mths, hold their pencil/pen/texta in a perfect tripod grip before. They usually start with a palmer grasp and then move on, but not Brock, he has gone straight to a tripod grip.

I've also been noticing over the past month or so, just how smart/clued on Brock is. His receptive language, ie, following instructions, is remarkable. I can give him 3 step instructions like: Brock pick up the paper, put it in the bin and then come and get it from me, he does it in order as I have told him.

I've found myself giving him harder instructions to follow to see how he goes and every time he surprises me. Now for my concerns, I'm worried that I will start expecting too much of him, too early. I don't want to push him, I want to keep my expectations real and in context for him. Also I don't want to start comparing Brock with Harry. Already a couple of times I've found myself saying "Harry never had this level of receptive lang at Brock's age" I have 2 completely different children and don't want to feel that one has to live up to the other or that I'm not proud of them.

[Harmony]

All my girls have started with the tripod grip - B was attempting it the other day and she's only just turned one - then moved on to the other grips and back to tripod before they were 2. Freaked me right out! I think subsequent children just have the advantage of built in, full time peers to imitate :)

[Anju]

Yeah Josie is the same. She has been holding her pencil in the tripod grip from a very early age and is a wonderful talker and is very smart. She can locate different countries on the globe too.
I think that if a child is showing an ability or interest in something, then go with it. Encourage but dont demand. Its all good.

[marmee]

Agreed with above - our 2nd born went straight to tripod. Our 3rd is now 2 and pretty close to a tripod grip.

I understand what you are saying. I think you just "go with the flow". See where they are up to and work with them...take them further if they show interest, leave them to explore further if they are happy. I don't think there is any sense in not taking a child to the next step if they are ready and happy :-)

[Aine]

willow was the same

[emd]

Don't know anything about tripod grips - I'm still confuzzled by my 5 year old being ambidextrous - but the instructions thing is what Billy has been doing for a long time. It only bothers me that he can follow complex instructions, but doesn't speak. Compared to my five year old, who was speaking in simple sentences by age two.

I've not done anything with my kids. I just encourage them to do whatever they're capable of, and try not to make a fuss. It is natural to compare your kids - just part of noticing that they're all different - but I try not to typecast them too much as their developmental abilities change as they get older.

[Karena]

Thanks everyone. As a teacher I knew I was on the right track but it's entirely different as a mother :2lol

[Pinky]

Yeah, the tripod grip is not a milestone here.. I have no idea when mine started.

I think it is natural to want to help our kids at what they are good at. here is MY brag.

My daughter was talking in 3 word sentences at 18 months - at her 18 month well baby check up the doctor said she was as good as many 3 year olds who were 'on track'. She could bead necklaces very early too and had amazing concentration.. she would do that plastic beads on a board thing (you iron them and they stick together) She had a friend, older than her who could not speak, and who would get frustrated by the beading and couldn't concentrate on it for as long..

then this friend of hers could climb a tree, and do all the rungs of the monkey bars at age 2 1/2. She can ride a bike (the balance ones) but now at age 4 she rides the real thing no training wheels. She could cross country skii at age 3. My daughter played with her often and we tried all these things but my daughter just couldn't do any of them. she's 4 1/2 and still can't do the monkey bars or ride a bike. She's not bad at skating.. but by no means an ace. And trying to do these things for any length of time stressed her out and she lost concentration.

both kids were REALLY ahead at something.. just not the same things.. and average or below at others...

I believe we (parents) have our kids best intentions at heart when we try to encourage them. We don't want to push them but we do want to challenge them to keep them stimulated. And it is natural to be proud. When our kids excel at something it is proof that they are "smart" "normal" whatever. it gives us hope for them for the future.

and it is the measurable accomplishments that are are easy to see. Verbal Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Gross Motor Skills.. we can measure these and compare them.. they let us know our kids are healthy...

but what of the unmeasurable skills? What about the kid who has started developing empathy before the age of 3? The kid who has an appreciation of colour composition? the kid who has perfect musical ear (who can't stand the mechanical music in most baby toys and videos). What of the kid who appreciates nature and beauty? These kids might be well in advance of yours or mine in these departments but how would anyone know? they are unmeasurable.

I think your kids know you are proud of them no matter what they excel at.

[michelle_j_r]

Jordy at 3 still has no clue about the tripod grip despite many attempts at showing him! LOL!

But Darcy has been speaking in five word sentences since about 17months and has been following complex instructions since then too. I think second kids copy so much from their siblings.

[Nyree]

Bri was the same, too :)