Question

What an interesting challenge to parent a special child! It is apparent that your little one's language and motor skills are thriving in the environment you are providing.

Answer

What an interesting challenge to parent a special child! It is apparent that your little one's language and motor skills are thriving in the environment you are providing. Don't worry about a child learning too fast. All children are individuals and grow at their own pace and potential. You are doing a great job by talking and spending time with your little girl. Children learn best when parents are involved in their education. I would continue what you are doing. Nothing can take the place of a loving and involved parent.

The challenges for you will become more critical when she reaches school age. Because of your child's skills, her teachers, friends, and relatives may tend to treat her as an older child, yet she still needs to play and interact with others her age. You will need to stay ahead of her language and motor development, encourage her drive to learn, and make sure her emotional and social needs are met. Stay the course with her maturation level. Remember you are the expert regarding your child and you can seek others to complement your work.

You will be busy with a special child. But there will be many rewards! For her motor development, you might want to consider "Mommy and me" gymnastics classes, which provide a healthy physical challenge and an opportunity to play with children her own age. For her language skills, she needs to know early on that verbal fluency is a gift, one that she can use to help teach others. By encouraging your child to channel her skills into helping others, you hope to avoid insensitivity to others' needs. I also suggest that you ask your pediatrician to give you examples of other special challenges you may face with your child, and how to effectively advocate for her gifts and needs. Good luck and enjoy parenting!