2 3/4 year old daughter - How to know if she is smart

[blester]

My daughter, which turns 3 in October has extreme verbal and reasoning skills.  I am trying determine if I am bais since our other son had speech delay and didn't really started talking after intense speech theorpy.  

My daughter started talking when she was 1 1/2 and could sing 14 children songs by the age of 2 (old McDonald, Twinkle Twinkle) that kinda of songs.  Just today she was in a conversation with my wife and it when like this.

Daughter asked my wife where she was going today. Wife responded I was taking her to ma ma's and pa pa's. Daughter asked her where I was going today. Wife responded that she had to go to work. Daughter responded "But you told me work isn't fun." Wife said "It isn't but that's where I get money to buy groceries and clothes." Daughter responded "Is work fun today?" Wife responded "No. It's not fun any day." Daughter "Well, it is what is."  

This is just a sample of a typical conversation with the daughter, she uses sentence that contains in some cases greater then 14 words and some words are pretty complex and for the most part used correctly.

Should I have her tested?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, there is no need to do so. With every child, the various areas of development do not proceed at the same pace. Her language skills are certainly a strong area for her. But this does not invite testing. Enjoy her in all her accomplishments and struggles. As an aside, you would do well not to be characterizing work as not enjoyable. This is an area in which you don't have to be so explicit. It's not a good thing to create the impression for your daughter that work is a burden.

[tomel]

My son also learned sign language. It is alot of work when you have a child with a speech delay. So that is wonderful your 2nd child was much easier and didnt have that problem. It is usually boys that have the delays in dev.,not that girls dont. But if you meet enough people and observe most of the preschools, most of the dev. delayed kids are boys.
My son also for supposedly having mild hypotonia and the apraxia is doing fairly well. He is already swimming on his own (without floaties) and he has never had a lesson, outside of mom and dad.

[tomel]

Your daughter is still young and is a ways away form kindergarten, so I wouldn not worry about it. I'm sure from what it sounds like she could start early and would be just fine. The fact that she has an older brother helps alot.
Yep, I know all about the DDD's and the IEP's and all that fun stuff.
My son is also in a mixed preschool. He loves it and it is good for him. He will just probably end up being in there a little longer. I am fine with that and have no problem at all with starting him in kindergarten later. That is the least of my concerns as far as his education goes.

[blester]

Yea, that is wife's image of work and yes my work ethicals are a bit better - so there is an offset.  I agree with what you are saying.  It was a bit hard since our first child who is almost 6 had a speech delay (Apraxia of Speech)  and my real question was or should have been should we push for early Kindergarden, she does need to write (which we have not pushed at this time), form lines, circles and that sort of stuff.  I have asked the big brother to help to teach her (reinforcement for him and a helping hand for her) in the art of writing.  As with all parents I am trying to determine the best course of action.

[blester]

Been there, we got lucky with him, he was in a special program run by the local MRDD and the program assisted with a county preschool that contained 6 delayed kids with 6 non delayed kids, which he started before he was 3.  And we did the signs as well to help with his built up communication issues.  I totaly understand and spend countless hours getting him help.  We had him at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital and they wrote up a report that we used to get him access to programs and had an IEP setup and additional private speech theropy along with MRDD half day of class and speech done within the group of kids.  

Daughter thought hasn't been around other kids except for her older brother and younger brother.  She has a slight issue with social skills but nothing like our son had at the same age.  She is a take charge little girl but can share most of the time.

[tomel]

She probably would do fine starting kindergarten a little early. That also depends on how she is socially/emotionally. Most states a very strict about having kids enter kindergarten early. But becuause her birthday is in Oct. it would only be a couple months difference. They would just have to test her.
Boys are usually more immature so in my opinion its not a good idea to try to get them in early. My son also has a birthday in Oct. but when he gest close to kindergarten I am just gona wait. So he wont start kindergarten till he is almost 6. My son also has apraxia and I know he wont be ready to enter early. Even though he can write, knows his letter, colors, numbers and some sight words. (He turns 4 in Oct.)  He is not there socially/emotionally.

[tomel]

Girls are much better verbally at a young age than boys. Every single girl that my son hangs out with are very verbal and were at a much younger age than most boys. As well as much more social. Its just a fact that even at a very young age the genders are already showing their differences.
If you want your daughter tested what purpose would that serve?
Its obvious she's smart, but other than mabye starting her in kindergarten before she turns 5, what else would you do with that knowledge?

[siren of the sea]

you have just described my neice which turned 3 this past june. she is amazing verbally. the other night her mom told her something like well thats life and she replied< no its your life and daddys life>. she is funny. i think just keep encouraging her. by the way my sis kid was a preemie and from she was told they tend to be very smart. wow what a fun child!