Number/letter obsessed toddler... Is this normal?

[Warl]

Firstly just to want to say that I cannot stand pretentious bragging parents (Tarquin could count to a hundred in mandarin by 18 months etc.) so please don't anyone interpret this post to be that, I am just looking for some reassurances I suppose....

DD will be 3 next month, around Christmas time she became interested in number (think the advent calendar brought it on)! It's grown from there but now she is obsessed with numbers, everywhere we go she'll point out & tell us numbers, she can correctly name any two digits together 60's, 70's 80's right up to 99 and shouts them out for lamp posts building numbers etc & never gets them wrong. It all got a bit stranger the other day when I was sorting out the cupboards & I pulled the Christmas advent truck out (it's an old fashioned truck with the little drawers that pull out & has Xmas pictures on each one), she hasn't seen it since Xmas time & I can't really remember her bothering with it all that much (she was more interested in the chocolate one) anyway DH was pulling the drawers out & she was saying the numbers at first then he was covering the numbers & just showing her the pictures & she got them all right. I said to DH afterwards that she must have a photographic memory but then he asked if I thought it was 'normal' (hate that word) and now it's got me wondering.........

[LuchiMangsho]

Totally. I really don't mean to boast but both my kids count add and subtract by that age. Both were totally mathematically obsessed by 18 months (could count up to 30 or so) or so and both were reading by their 3rd birthday. Despite my multiple degrees I have very poor mathematical skills so I was MOST baffled. I facilitated this with lots of number games and letter games.

Three tips that an older mum gave me. One, make sure that she learns the letters phonetically. My kids did this, and this REALLY helps with learning to read. We didn't do 'schemes' or whatever but they both enjoyed the Songbirds books. I learned to read phonetically so it came easily to me. but it is important to learn the sound rather than the letter names.

The second tip, in mathematical terms was to get them to think of 'quantity' in association with numbers. So bring numbers into their normal life. When you are doling out something, ask them to add and subtract. Use numbers for baking. Money. Just quantity in everyday life.

And the final tip was to get them to learn number bonds to help them have more fun with maths. I had to google what number bonds were originally and couldn't see the point originally. But actually it doesn't just help with addition/subtraction but it helps with lots of concepts etc. The Rockets and Comets Orchard Toys game was great for this.

[Warl]

Oh brilliant Luchi thank you so much, couple of things to look into there. My goddaughter brought her maths homework here once & I didn't realise they taught them 'new maths' or whatever it is, my mind boggled!!

[WoahSlowDown]

It's normal for some kids. Two of mine did this and all my DC loved patterns in letters and numbers.

Some kids can learn to add and subtract very young and the same goes for spelling. In the long run it doesn't make much odds how young they are when they start but as long as they are enjoying it then let them get in with it.

One of my DC completely taught herself her letters from a computer game - she was and still is tenacious

[Ferguson]

If you can afford it, for Christmas get her an electronic Keyboard - Full-size keys, and 61 of them, or 76 better still. She should be able to teach herself from easy tutor books, with adult help when necessary. An early introduction to music can lay a foundation to not only playing-skills and listening (which some children are unable to do) but as a child gets older can be a useful social activity.

[Dontneedausername]

I have one too!
Ever since we went toddling round the village for 'walks' at a year old, he would point to every number plate, door number, street name etc. I would have to read it out or he wouldn't move.
Found out he could read when we were on holiday last year. He was 3.5.
He is 4.5 now and can read most words. Posters at the doctors, names on back of cars, pretty much most things or will at least sound them out pretty well.
However, as I'm in Scotland and his birthday is February, I'm not sending him to school yet. He is still not emotionally ready (and his year older sis is just going into P1 so I would like them in separate years).
His nursery teachers work with him everyday, and give him more challenging tasks when the class are doing letters and numbers.
I have no idea why he is so smart, I have never taught him, and his sister can't read.... I'm an avid reader tho, so he must have my genes!

[EarthboundMisfit]

I have had two like this.

[KW89]

Yep, DS1 is 3 in two months, and has been reading and writing CVC words for around six months, he's not quite as obsessed with numbers as he is letters, but can recognise up to 100, and can add and and subtract to ten. Like others have said just use it in everyday things like baking and playing shops! X