[extropy-chat] Parenting: Late Talkers

[Alan Eliasen]

Karen Rand Smigrodzki wrote:
> My fraternal twin nephews are now 26 months old, and they have yet to talk.
> His mom is a doctor, so kids health checks fine. However, they are worried
> parents. Information I have gathered informs that Einstein didn't talk until
> he was 3 years old and that not talking until one is three is not that
> uncommon. Anyone here have that experience with their kids or themselves?

   My best friend didn't talk until around 4, or maybe older, and now he's
likely the most charming, intelligent, funny, quick-witted, loquacious,
empathetic, and socially-apt person I've ever known.  He's said he was
"listening" up until then.  I believe it.  If only we all learned so well from
our listening.

   The twin issue is interesting.  I've read about twins who come up with
their own languages that they can understand early in life, but I can't cite
the references right now (Oliver Sacks, I think.)  My friend's older brother
could generally understand the made-up language he used before that, while the
parents couldn't.

   I've known another person that followed the same pattern until almost 5,
and then he suddenly began speaking in rational, coherent sentences.
(Literally almost making his mom crash the car when he suddenly spoke his
first sentence, "I really enjoyed the puppet show, Mom.")  From these
examples, I don't think there is a huge reason to worry.

-- 
  Alan Eliasen                 | "You cannot reason a person out of a
  eliasen at mindspring.com       |  position he did not reason himself
  http://futureboy.homeip.net/ |  into in the first place."
                               |     --Jonathan Swift