2 year old can't count to 3 - normal?

[WhyTheHeckMe]

My ds1 is just 2 and cannot count to 3.
I have no idea if it's normal as all the other kids I know his age (and automatically compare him to) are counting to 10, some even 20 and doing the alphabet.
My sisters son could count to 10 by 15 months. It's hard to not worry!

We do try and teach him 1, 2, 3..but he copies 3,2,3.
He seems to get muddled a lot.
Rabbit is barrit.
Cat is tac.
Mr tumble is mr bumtle!

All normal? Or worth mentioning during his health visitor review in 3 months?

Thanks

[SlartyFarkBarstard]

Are they actually counting though or just reciting numbers?

[SlartyFarkBarstard]

Also lots of children still muddle sounds at this age, there’s lots of variations of normal but it can’t help to have a chat to the HV about it for reassurance.

[ZigZagandDustin]

My almost 2 yr old took a liking to 2 and 9 for the last few months and every time you tell her to count she just repeats 2,9,2,9...

She's also been speaking in 6 word sentences since about 20 months and is in line with the developmental check of a 3 yr old though not yet 2 (except for the counting thing😂).

Don't worry! Maybe your ds just couldn't be arsed with numbers yet. Could well still be a genius!

[WhyTheHeckMe]

He also doesn't know any colours, also normal? He loves little toy cars so we'll try the whole 'red car, white car, blue car' etc. Ask him to gour and fetch his white car and he comes back with the red one. I wasn't too concerned but dh seems to think we should be! Thanks for the advise so far!

[haba]

He's just 2, so still very young. Mr bumtle is so cute! Children mix up sounds for a long time often, but if you're worried have you checked his hearing? My DS suffered a lot when small.with ear infections, and his speech was terrible (it would deteriorate) when his ears were bunged up (glue ear). It might be worth asking HV or GP for hearing test, it will certainly help out your mind at rest.

[haba]

And yes- those other children are reciting, not counting! Don't stress, he's not a performing monkey

[SlartyFarkBarstard]

Yes normal not to know colours at this age, I use the EYFS daily and there’s nothing in it to say children should be learning colours at the age of two.

[AuntLydia]

You are unusually surrounded by child prodigies I think! Have you actually witnessed any of these tiny geniuses and their remarkable counting skills?! By age 3 kids should be able to recite numbers 1-3 when prompted. By age 2 they should be starting to recognise numbers in nursery rhymes and songs and understanding the quantity 2 - so if you ask him to bring you 2 cars then he should understand that. He should also be mimicking counting but not necessarily getting the numbers right. This is from the foundation phase profile we use in Wales. He sounds just fine to me op.

[Annabelle4]

I wouldn't worry at all. My ds only began to actually speak at 2.
He's a genius now

[Littlelambpeep]

I wouldn't worry at all at just two. Just play lots and use lots of language and it will happen.

[GentlyGentlyOhDear]

My son is 2 years 4 months and doesn't know colours and gets some shapes muddled. He does basic counting of 3-4 objects and can recite numbers to ten, but his speech clarity leaves a lot to be desired. We often still struggle to understand him.
I was worried as was comparing him to his older sister who was streets ahead at that age, but at his 2 year review the HV said he is doing absolutely fine and it is completely normal. My DS is much more interested in running around and climbing and jumping.

[Codlet]

He sounds fine to me! My DS definitely couldn’t do those things when he was 2, but he’s really good at maths now (age 8).

[BellyBean]

Everything was green or red for a long time with DD. It'll come in time.

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

My DD didn’t really speak until she was 3. He’s doing fine 🙂

[Sparrowlegs248]

They're all different. My son is 2yrs 4 months and has only just started speaking this last couple of week. He surprised me by "counting" (or reciting) from 1 to 7 yesterday. We count the stairs as we go up and down and his fingers and toes.

[Ttbb]

Mine could barely talk at that age. Obviously they caught up and the flew ahead as they got older. Don't worry about it, it just take some children a bit longer to 'get' counting.

[theworldgonemad]

It is absolutely normal. None of mine were counting at 2. As people have said it is more repetition when you here other children doing it or they could be child geniuses. Ps I was a child genius - evened out with everyone else by the age of 11

Seriously do not worry at all. Your DS sounds perfectly at the right stage of their development.

[Phillipa12]

Me, one
Ds age2.3, one
Me, two
Ds, two
Me, three
Ds, DONKEY
I really wouldnt worry about it, all children develope at different rates.

[Chaosofcalm]

I googled when children learn colours yesterday as my DD is suddenly obsessed with colours. google says by the age of 3 children should be able to name 1 colour.

[MaggieS41]

Another one to say don’t worry! My 2.5 year old only knows the colour blue, just now counts to 10 and talks like Yoda.

[everywhichwaybut]

You'll look back on videos of him muddling his words in years to come and say "aw!! Why was I in such a rush for him to grow up and move on?"
I was exactly the same 😝
Still am a bit.
He's still a baby, he'll get there.

[pandacandour]

My dd is 2.1 and can "count" 123 but it's not really counting she's just learnt it by rote! If you ask her how many fingers she has etc she hasn't a clue.

Before she said 123 she would always say "269" for some reason .

[Lules]

My 2 year old’s ‘counting’ could be described as erratic. He knows the words of some colours but doesn’t know what they refer to. It’s fine.

[mindutopia]

He's so young. I wouldn't even be bothering at this age. Mine is 4 and in reception. She can count pretty well, but still switches some numbers around or skips one, which is normal even for school age children (and according to her teacher, she's very bright). At 2 he's just copying what you say and no really understanding numeracy yet, so I wouldn't sweat it. He has years still to learn this stuff.

[Mol1628]

My 2yo didn’t know any numbers or letters, he’s now almost 3 and knows most of the primary colours and can count things up to ten. They change so fast at this age even a week can see such a big change in ability so don’t worry at all, just do lots of play and reading and they’ll all pick it up eventually