Younger sibling hitting milestones faster than older?

[Anonymous]

My 18 month old is hitting her milestones waaaay earlier than my 5.5 y.o. did. For example, she can already sound out some letters and scribbles circles and lines intentionally. Her fine motor skills are almost on par with his (she can do 48 piece puzzles and put together Legos, although taking then apart is too hard). My 5 y.o. reads well and is starting to write, in other words I don't think he's slow.

Is this normal? Do younger siblings typically learn things faster? She does imitate him a lot and he adores her.

[Anonymous]

I would think they typically might catch on faster with some things. For us it was the opposite, our first did everything way early. Second is more in the normal range, although his fine motor skills are pretty impressive.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My newly 4yr old thinks he is in 1st grade just like his brother due to remote school. He is picking up a lot!

[Anonymous]

My kids are like this. I assume the younger just watched the older do stuff and was inspired to try more, earlier.

[Anonymous]

My kids are two years apart and learned to ride a bike the same month. (Luckily for family peace the older one figured it out first!)

Look at it this way: younger sib has a very obvious role model in older sib.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

Peer pressure is amazing, isn’t it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes.

Peer pressure is amazing, isn’t it?

Yes, apparently so!

Thanks, everyone.

-OP

[Anonymous]

I know it’s anecdotal, but I have all boys and have noticed from hanging out with friends that their little girls meet these types of milestones quicker. The little girls I know were much more verbal and able to do fine motor things earlier on whereas my boys were really into gross motor stuff. Of course there are exceptions, but it could just be two very different kids who had different skill sets early on. Also, subsequent kids are motivated to do things they see the big kids doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. My newly 4yr old thinks he is in 1st grade just like his brother due to remote school. He is picking up a lot!

This is really cute.

[Anonymous]

Difference is at least In part due to the difference between boys and girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it’s anecdotal, but I have all boys and have noticed from hanging out with friends that their little girls meet these types of milestones quicker. The little girls I know were much more verbal and able to do fine motor things earlier on whereas my boys were really into gross motor stuff. Of course there are exceptions, but it could just be two very different kids who had different skill sets early on. Also, subsequent kids are motivated to do things they see the big kids doing.

I so do not want to believe this (and still think gender differences are exaggerated), but DS (5.5y) has so much more energy and is constantly jumping around, while DD (18 months) can sit and carefully pay attention for 5-10 minutes at a time. When DS was a baby, he did.not.stop. moving his little legs and arms. I think he might be borderline ADHD, especially compared to her. If he is not outside every day running for *at least* an hour, he is just not himself. He is also very thin as a result, while she's solid (I don't have to worry about the wind blowing her off our lawn like I did with him).

-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 18 month old is hitting her milestones waaaay earlier than my 5.5 y.o. did. For example, she can already sound out some letters and scribbles circles and lines intentionally. Her fine motor skills are almost on par with his (she can do 48 piece puzzles and put together Legos, although taking then apart is too hard). My 5 y.o. reads well and is starting to write, in other words I don't think he's slow.

Is this normal? Do younger siblings typically learn things faster? She does imitate him a lot and he adores her.

I feel like you know the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it’s anecdotal, but I have all boys and have noticed from hanging out with friends that their little girls meet these types of milestones quicker. The little girls I know were much more verbal and able to do fine motor things earlier on whereas my boys were really into gross motor stuff. Of course there are exceptions, but it could just be two very different kids who had different skill sets early on. Also, subsequent kids are motivated to do things they see the big kids doing.

I so do not want to believe this (and still think gender differences are exaggerated), but DS (5.5y) has so much more energy and is constantly jumping around, while DD (18 months) can sit and carefully pay attention for 5-10 minutes at a time. When DS was a baby, he did.not.stop. moving his little legs and arms. I think he might be borderline ADHD, especially compared to her. If he is not outside every day running for *at least* an hour, he is just not himself. He is also very thin as a result, while she's solid (I don't have to worry about the wind blowing her off our lawn like I did with him).

-OP

I have two girls and then a boy and this is my experience too. While my girls spoke and used fine motor skills much earlier (second girl even earlier than first), the boy started running, jumping, climbing, using scooter, etc by the time he was 17 months... the girls took probably 6 months longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it’s anecdotal, but I have all boys and have noticed from hanging out with friends that their little girls meet these types of milestones quicker. The little girls I know were much more verbal and able to do fine motor things earlier on whereas my boys were really into gross motor stuff. Of course there are exceptions, but it could just be two very different kids who had different skill sets early on. Also, subsequent kids are motivated to do things they see the big kids doing.

I so do not want to believe this (and still think gender differences are exaggerated), but DS (5.5y) has so much more energy and is constantly jumping around, while DD (18 months) can sit and carefully pay attention for 5-10 minutes at a time. When DS was a baby, he did.not.stop. moving his little legs and arms. I think he might be borderline ADHD, especially compared to her. If he is not outside every day running for *at least* an hour, he is just not himself. He is also very thin as a result, while she's solid (I don't have to worry about the wind blowing her off our lawn like I did with him).

-OP

I have two girls and then a boy and this is my experience too. While my girls spoke and used fine motor skills much earlier (second girl even earlier than first), the boy started running, jumping, climbing, using scooter, etc by the time he was 17 months... the girls took probably 6 months longer.

Same experience. My boys are so physical and active and were from an early age. My daughter spoke much earlier and will sit in place for activities for longer.

OP, I do think younger siblings pick up a lot from their older siblings and hit milestones earlier due to this

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old is picking up on stuff light years ahead of his older brother. He was riding a 2 wheeler by 3 year old, and now at 3 and a half can sound out basic words. It's bonkers.

Apparently I was the same way. Just desperate to keep up with my older sister.