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Original poster

To stress there are big gaps in five year old DS’s knowledge?

43 replies

cheeriton · 03/03/2026 19:04

I do worry about this. He doesn’t know the days of the week - he knows Monday, Sunday etc but not in consecutive order and same with months of the year.

is this normal or is he really behind?

OP posts:
Lighterandbrighter · 03/03/2026 20:04

Mine can tell you all about white blood cells and platelets but days of the week or months...now that's a challenge 😂

selondon28 · 03/03/2026 20:02

Totally normal. Just like @Seeline, it became apparent when my middle child was in year five that he still didn’t know the months, let alone what order they come in. So they all learn different things at different paces… if it days of the week you’re worried about specifically, get him days of the week underwear. My six-year-old loves making sure he’s wearing the correct pants for the correct day.

VividDeer · 03/03/2026 19:56

My daughter is bilingual and only cracked it in English much later than 5

dhinwiz · 03/03/2026 19:54

I was surprised DC only learning how to say the names of the letters ABC ( as opposed to the sounds ah beh kuh) only now in year 2. He doesn't even know the alphabet yet!

Seeline · 03/03/2026 19:46

My 10 yo still couldn't do the months of the year when he sat his 11+! He's just graduated with a first class degree so don't worry too much!

carboneltthecat · 03/03/2026 19:44

DD1 knew hers before she went into Reception, but only because she went to a brilliant playgroup that did a days of the week song every week. Thinking about it, I'm not entirely sure she really 'got' what a day of the week actually was, but she could recite them in order!

BogRollBOGOF · 03/03/2026 19:40

I'd expect a 5 year old to have awareness of them, but not be surprised if they jumbled them up/ forgot some.

DS2 was still getting confused by time concepts like yesterday/ tomorrow at 6 (although he is dyslexic)

WhatAMarvelousTune · 03/03/2026 19:22

NuffSaidSam · 03/03/2026 19:12

At this age they know what they've been taught. So if he hasn't been taught then it's not a concern that he doesn't know. If you've been trying to teach him for months and he can only remember two of the seven days, then yes, that's a concern.

Yes that’s what I was going to say.

My 3 yr old recited the days of the week this morning but in the tune of a little song they’d taught at nursery. It’s no different to her singing twinkle twinkle little star. If a 5 yr old was unable to learn this tune after a lot of repetition, then yes I think that would be a concern. But if no one has ever taught him the days of the week, then he’s not going to know them.

NuffSaidSam · 03/03/2026 19:12

At this age they know what they've been taught. So if he hasn't been taught then it's not a concern that he doesn't know. If you've been trying to teach him for months and he can only remember two of the seven days, then yes, that's a concern.

mynameiscalypso · 03/03/2026 19:11

Is he Reception or Year 1? DS was taught this in Year 1 (also formed part of his spellings) but I don’t think he would have known it before then.

lllamaDrama · 03/03/2026 19:11

He’s fine. My ds was like this - he knew the days of the week in order when he left nursery age 4 but he actually FORGOT a year later!

Anyway now he’s 7 and his memory and cognitive skills have improved.

Pearl69 · 03/03/2026 19:11

If you are worried (and I would nt be - ks1 TA) there are lots of songs on line which might help with remembering. Try the singing walrus, we play these in ks1 and in provisions.

Coffeeishot · 03/03/2026 19:10

I don't think mine knew the months in order at 5.

Coffeeishot · 03/03/2026 19:09

So he is 5 ? I don't think it is much of an issue , do you do days with him so it sticks just repeating we do this on a Monday that on a wednesday etc this is how he will learn,

Monsterslam · 03/03/2026 19:07

Imagine just not knowing and not caring about days of the week and months. It must be amazing. What day is it? Who cares! What month are we in? No idea! Bliss.

DestinedToBeOutlived · 03/03/2026 19:06

At that age they excell in some areas and seem behind in others, although this is totally normal. It generally all evens out over the next few years.

boysmuminherts · 03/03/2026 19:06

This is on the curriculum for year 1. Is he is year 1 or foundation stage? Even if year 1 he still has plenty of time to cement his knowledge.

rainydaysaway · 03/03/2026 19:05

He’s 5! I’d be worried if he was 18, but not at this age.

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