What is "normal" for a 20 month old toddler

[3.14_Opal]

OK, I know I shouldn't compare kids, but my friends daughter is WAY more advanced than my daughter (they are close in age), and I know my daughter isn't slow. Most people tell me how smart she is for her age (she's 19 months.)

The reason I'm wondering what is "normal" is I'm thinking of telling my friend to have her daughter checked out for being an exceedingly smart child. Her daughter can say her alphabet, count to 20, use sentences- actual sentences I've heard from her "Ang (me) is on the phone.", "I'm getting together with Piper (my daughter) soon.", "I closed the dryer.", "It's dark and I'm scared." And she does use 'real' words that are understandable by any adult. My daughter always says "Eddie" (my and DH's friend who DD adores) and my friends daughter said "Piper is obsessed with Eddie." What kid says 'obsessed'??!

I know she was wondering what is average for toddlers her dd age, but I'm not really sure. The next time she goes to the ped is for her 2 year visit, so I guess she'll find out then, but for now opinions are welcome- What is "normal"

EDIT:
I just realized I put this in the wrong fourm (That's what I get for keeping too many tabs open)... How do I move this? Help Can someone move this for me?

[eclipse]

I would say that your friend's daughter is "advanced" verbally. My oldest son was much like you describe her (My friend's fave story about my son is that, the day we met (I think he was barely two), he fell down and skinned his knee. He then started yelling "oh no! I damaged my knee!" ). My daughter wasn't much far behind him. My current toddler (21 months) doesn't talk much at all. He's just starting to sign a few words and has only in the last week or so picked up much beyond "mama" and "dada."

[GooeyRN]

That sounds quite advanced (verbally) to me. My dd is 20 months old, has about 70 words, but only uses them one at a time usually. Rarely, she will use a two words at a time.

[merpk]

Our DS#1 was advanced verbally as well. Spoke in complete sentences at 18 mos, etc., etc., etc.

Our other kids weren't advanced verbally. One didn't speak well till 2&change, another till 3. The next spoke pretty well at 2, but she's now bilingual at 3.



IMO big deal. They all move along at their own rates.






Am not big on testing for giftedness and that kind of thing. We were all excited to do that with DS#1, and then the point was made to us that he's going to learn at his own level no matter what, so who cares how he measures against other children or some test?

Unless there's some sort of deficiency that needs to be caught early and worked on, I don't see the point.



And yeah, he did read early, too. Very nice. So what does it mean? Does it mean he goes to Harvard? He'll make lots of money? He'll be a doctor?






Read a lot to your children, help them love to read, and they'll do what they can when they're ready to do it.



IMNSVHO.