Nearly 4 year old cannot identity numbers.

[earlycat]

Or letters.

My ds is 4 in 2 months and he still cannot identify any letters or numbers except for 0. He knows circle shape but no others.

How much did your child know at this age? Also I'd appreciate any tips on how to help him with this.

My tip is to let him enjoy being 3. It will come with time

He is 3! Let him be!

We read our DC lots of books - there’s lots of number and counting books out there for toddlers and pre-schoolers. They picked up identifying numbers from those.

Nursery rhymes and songs with counting in might also help with numbers, also counting groups of objects / toys etc with him.

We didn’t really look at teaching letters to our DC until they started doing phonics at school nursery.

I'm sure he'll be able to recognise numbers by the time he's applying for a job. Everyone learns stuff at different ages and rates - once he starts school, they'll be able to help and let you know how he's progressing, and whether or not they are worried about his development.

My DD started reception unable to count to ten. (And not through lack of trying!)
School report shows she's quick to pick up maths concepts, not so good on actual numbers... Several of which she still writes backwards. She's in Yr4.

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

He doesn't have to. It a marathon, not a sprint. The most important number for many children is the one they are, so maybe if you want him to learn numbers, teach him the one he is. Understanding number is the most important bit. 3 forks, you are 3!! 3 steps down, same as you!!! Recognising a numeral is a thing, understanding what it means is more important.

My DS is the same age and has no clue, he can count to 10 but doesn’t know what it means.
The reception teacher at school has always said don’t worry about the academic stuff and just get them to the stage before they start reception where they can recognise their name, get themselves dressed, feed themselves and get themselves to the toilet and they’ll deal with the rest in school

So he is still in nursery? My DS1 was pretty ahead and could blend (not read per se) on leaving nursery. DS2 was unable to recognise a single letter or number and couldn't write his name! They are both doing well now (Y8 and Y5). It'll all work out fine.

Don’t worry about it, children learn at different rates but most of them get there in the end. It’s funny when your children are little, people expect them to do things at particular times and then when they are adults, they are mostly just like everyone else. Relax and enjoy your child: play, read books, take him for a walk in the park. My children are both in their 20s and I wish I could shrink them back down to being 3 years old again!

My kid is at school and STILL can't recognise numbers. Can read and write, but cannot do numbers. I'm starting to think it's maybe an issue... but as my kid is still young, I'm just going to wait and see, and follow what the school advise.

At 3 I wouldn't be bothered. Very young still, even if they are getting formal input by way of any basic phonics from you or nursery etc. It'll come in time, and if it doesn't then tackle it then, rather than when he's so young. Don't scare him off with too much pressure :)

Honestly, don't worry. My DS2 is 4 and been at school for 4 months and still wouldn't recognise that many numbers on paper. From experience with DS1, I know it'll happen soon enough

DC 1 knew all the number to 20 by that age. He watched a lot of 'bob the train' with number, alphabet and shape songs. He also knew the entire alphabet song and recognised most letters.

DC 2 just turned 4 and shes nothing like that. She doesn't watch videos like that and instead watches peppa pig and things like that
She knows some numbers, but not all. Sometimes she does really well (i think she guesses) and then other times she knows nothing. Im not too worried, she will learn it soon enough.

Er... Why does he need to recognise numbers and letters at aged 3?

DS is nearly 4 and can recognise 1-10 and some bigger numbers, as well as shapes and can some simple adding and subtracting.

On the other hand he can't figure out how to take a jumper on and off by himself and can't really do shoes either! That would be more useful tbh.

I think they all just develop different skills in different orders and they get there eventually.

I was so set on my ds now 7 learning numbers and letters l lost track that l maybe didn’t make it fun l have not been so pushy with my dd who is now 4 and l only realised she knew her numbers by having an advent calendar. Don’t worry children learn at different speeds.

I can remember being in P1 (so 5) and the teacher putting a video on of El Nombre, a Mexican mouse, drawing the number 1 and being like “what the fuck is that?!”.

It’ll come in time when he sees how numbers work in context etc.

I have a similar memory terriblecustomercervix I moved from nursery in Italy age 5 to the summer term of reception in the UK. We had maths work books where we were adding sheep, I had no idea what was going on and just spent the lesson drawing lots of sheep.

I was just curious as I believe most children in his pre school class can recognise quite a few.

I'm not going to pressure him to learn it all now, but just wanted to give him the best chance by doing what other parents are to help.

If he watches TV then encourage alpha locks and numberblocks, and the numtums.

Otherwise, all the books you read to him will help. But recognising the number AND understanding the concept is a huge thing and not at all important for a 3 year old. He will be developing all kinds of important maths concepts just through having opportunity to play (especially with real objects and toys, not just a screen).

at 3 mine knew all the chess pieces but no numbers or letters. He’s 8 now, he knows them all.

My DS is 4 next month and I have no idea if he can recognise numbers. He counts accurately and shows numbers on his fingers. Hasn't occurred to me to see if he recognises the shapes.

There was another thread recently about a child the same age who refused to hold any writing implement. Same advice to her from most posters, chill!

Great advice from Definitelyshouldknowbetter I was a Supervisor in a large private Nursery and the one thing ALL reception teachers wanted us to do was the basic self care. You can teacher 30 kids at a time to recognise colours/numbers etc but you can't help 30 kids put on their shoes at the same time.

My daughter knew 1-20 by 4 but she enjoys playing with numbers and letters, games etc. Lots of other kids her age weren't able to, they will all soon catch up. Try not to worry so much, I know it's hard but 4 is still so young 💜.

Put Numberblocks on for him (BBC iplayer)