4yo can't count

[countingnumbers]

So my 4yo is starting reception soon and I'm not sure whether I should be concerned or whether this is totally normal for this aged child. I have a 7mo and I've been in survival mode struggling with the sleep deprivation and lack of help with both kids. I've let things go a lot as I don't get a lot of one to one time with my elder one but I'm trying to change that. We used to do fun learning activities so trying to get back into that but I've noticed he cannot count to 10? I've got flash cards and he really can't recognise the numbers and isn't able to count to 4. Sometimes I even ask what's after 1 and he won't be able to answer? He used to be able to count to ten when he was under 3 but I realise it was more of a memorisation thing but he's forgotten it all. He's been going to nursery since he was 18 months. I do incorporate counting in everyday things like counting the stairs or buttons etc. are they expected to know this when they start school?

They don't expect anything academic, although an ability to recognise their own name is handy. More useful is self care skills like going to the toilet, getting shoes and coat on and off, sitting quietly and listening, using cutlery and other fine and gross motor skills like this. If he is up to speed with things like that, it will be a lot easier for him.

There's a very wide range of abilities (and skills already gained) in reception starters. Some kids have parents who have the time, patience and desire to teach their children basic numeracy and literacy before they are due to start school. Some - probably most - don't, and some kids have older siblings who teach them things before. So it does vary a lot, as does the child's innate ability to learn things.

To be honest though I am surprised that he can't recognise numbers, does he not watch CBeebies programmes like Numberjacks (whatever they are showing now, it was Numberjacks when my DS was little)? Their programmes are very good for introducing the basics to preschoolers, I've always thought?

Thanks for replying. That's reassuring as he can do all of those things pretty well. No, he's not interested sitting and watching shows like that. However I did test him with cards numbered 1-4 and chose them at random and he was surprisingly able to correctly identify each one but then did it again some time later and he was getting it wildly wrong so not sure what's going on. I have noticed he just guesses a lot without even looking properly. But if I were to show him any dinosaur he would be able to name it accurately and give facts about each one. So if he's interested in a subject, he's great.