You have to read. 'Ape Talk' has been a real movement, basically mimicking the first sounds your child makes, as if this is communicating. It's horrendously disrespectful to the infant.

My first, not until she was 4-5. 'Bug Story'. She was so overwhelmed by the experience, she got a fever which lasted 10 minutes after the movie ended. Honestly, I don't believe kids under 6 or 7 need the incredible sensory (over)stimulation modern theaters present. There are no 'gentle' movies anymore.

On the upside, my girl never had nightmares. Never. She was never given more than she could handle.

The "ape talk" doctor is just so extreme and so disrespectful to our children. Our kids will ALWAYS rise to the occasion...

I follow the advice in this article (http://Http://bit.ly/bYhWyi) as best I can and find much more calm, respect and trust between my kids and me. It is an  atmosphere more condusive to learning and developing.

"Praising Children, Risking Failure".... It's short, and worth a read: http://Http://bit.ly/dxNazj

Thanks for that Sarah! Then I'll assume it is NOT my imagination.

Hm. Thanks for your thoughts. I think it's a boy thing. Girl One is off on a full ride to Yale next year, and Girl Two is only 14 but spends her summers at Stamford. Only to say both have a real love of learning and academics. Without being 'nerds' (sorry)... This little boy, though, my wonderful, sweet, hilarious boy -- I'm convinced he's capable, but he's in such a rush, charges through life...

Again, I think it's a boy thing.

My two older daughters were both reading quite expertly by age 4. By that, I mean they understood the words they were reading and could sound out and pronounce unfamiliar words (as long as they weren't too many syllables!). They had a real enthusiasm and focus.

My boy, on the other hand, is much less interested. He's learning, but it's a struggle. I don't think he's any less capable, but he's physically restless (reads/draws standing up) and isn't as innately interested.

Have others had the same experience? Is it a 'boy thing'?

These are the days. Some very wise person nailed the parenting experience: “Every day lasts forever, but the years fly by.” Embrace these days...There will be happy surprises. Scribbles, preschool crafts, flowers from the garden on Mother’s Day will evolve into eloquent notes that leave you sobbing. Your children will make you laugh, cry and prouder than you can imagine. Loving a child is, by far, the most enduring high there is. http://bit.ly/ddUeoD  

Child #1 has a sweet tooth... Child #2 couldn't care less... Child #3 is all sugar, all the time. He's very aggressive about it, too. So, we just don't bring junk into the house. When he comes home ravinous from school, there is fruit, nuts etc on the table. This seems to do the trick, though I know he gets candy occasionally from other kids.

Discussed here (http://bit.ly/aaDcJc) and confirms what I've always known -- our babies are aware and ready to learn!!!

Discussed here (http://bit.ly/aaDcJc) and confirms what I've always known -- our babies are aware and ready to learn!!!

I think Kizudo has it right! like everything with babies, if they love it they'll want to it all the time... but waking up at 1,2,3 AM for readings (not feedings)? That's too much. So, it absolutely makes sense to schedule reading. Surely, this won't dampen her love for it.

I also wonder if she's getting enough exercise? Toddler tend to be very busy, no? And they need their sleep. Waking up at 1,2,3 AM for any reason except physical pains seems unlikely if she's getting plenty of fresh air and exersice.

Just a thought. Good luck. And I too would like for your child to meet mine. But not at 1AM!

[move]

... and 6 other reasons to let your baby move. Sorry, but allowing for free movement means losing bouncy seats, swings, jumpers and walkers, limiting the use of carriers, slings and strollers, all of which restrict our baby and/or do the activity for him. It's a tough pill to swallow, but...

More great advice from my parenting guru Janet Lansbury: http://bit.ly/aqgL7H

At that age, I really don't think there's anything to worry about. Please don't think me cruel, but maybe you should just leave the bottle. If she wants to eat, she'll figure it out VERY quickly. She has to hold the bottle, and apparently she is capable? If not, she will learn very quickly.

It's the same with all development -- we much stifle our instinct to do EVERYTHING for our babies, or yes, they will come to expect interference.

Good luck. To me, this does not seem a 'serious' developmental problem...