Dudley's development

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 92560

Geoff Bannister wrote:
> Going back to PS to check on some facts about the Dursleys, 
something curious suddenly struck me as unusual about Dudley.
> We had a thread a few weeks back about Dudley's birthday and 
decided that canon evidence pointed to late June, so that when Harry 
arrived at Privet Drive, Dudley was about sixteen months old.
> 
> We are told that:> 
> "Mr.Dursley..... tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because 
> Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the 
walls."
> (PS "The Boy Who Lived" p.8 UK edition)
> 
> ..and when Professor McGonagall objects to Harry being brought to 
the Dursleys, she remarks.....
> "And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the 
way up the street, screaming for sweets."
> (same chapter p.15)

> I don't recall either of my sons being strong enough to throw 
cereal at the walls when they were sixteen months; in a temper, they 
might push the dish off the high chair or spit the cereal out.
> Again, a child of this age with the ability to walk up the street 
and kick Mum and also scream recognisably and specifically for sweets 
> must be a fast developer, don't you think?

Mandy here:
Great catch!  The throwing of cereal could happen accidentally.  
Babies for flex their arms suddenly while eating and if any food was 
stuck it would come off and fly against the wall.  But the walking 
and kicking!  Highly unlikely.  Walking occurs between 12-15 months.  
Having the ability to kick at a target and balance while kicking 
would be extremely rare in a 16 month old.  

Hum, a magical Dudley surfaces again.

Cheers, Mandy