At what age should they be able to count to ten and recognise the numbers?

[Nemo1977]

Hi just curious as to when kids should be able to count to ten and recognise the numbers? Also is it possible for them to do this before they have very good language skills?

been able to 'count' comes early just repeating a pattern. Actually counting objects can be anywhere up to about 3. recognising numbers anywhere upto 4 or 5. Depends on child and interest!

I'd say, yes they can do this before they have fantastic language skills. I can remember ds1 started nursery at just 2 yrs old and it was only a couple of weeks later I heard him count to 10 in the garden. He was definitely not speaking in full sentences or anything at just turned 2.

He also recognised numbers fairly early - ds2 has been able to recognise them for a little while so he was maybe 2.5. The boys really learned those from the Thomas trains though (they know Percy is six so they recognise '6' iyswim) - not sure they'd recognise them so early otherwise but I don't know.

MTS/ GDG thanks to be honest I was asking because of DS who is 2 in oct. Over the weekend completely shocked me by counting and then bringing me blocks with numbers on and saying the number. Dh didnt believe me so wrote some numbers out and he got them all right again. However his language is not very good and he talks like a teletubbie with the words he can say...lol Think I was fretting a bit that it was odd....obviously not..lol

ds1 aged 6 is non verbal- (makes sounds I recognise but no proper speech). His understanding of language is very delayed.

He has been able to count much higher than 10 and recognise all his alphabet from age 2. Could read an odd few words then as well, no idea whether he can still do that (does still know alphabet etc). Also knew all shapes at - including trapezium and recognised things like divioded by and equals (didn't know what they meant just recognised them). So I would say they don't really need language at all- it's a visual, pattern recognition skill in the main.

actually the comment about thomas trains is a good one as ds is thomas obsessed so maybe thats where he has picked it up??????? I dont actually do any number stuff or alphabet because just asumed he was too young and with not having the lang skills just thought he was more of a physical kinda boy.lol

if he is interested just incourage him. My DS has recognised letters for ages as he plays with them in the bath!
M for mummy etc! Just make it fun and they soak it up!
he loves colours too and knows every colour even obscure ones..dont know how..also knows some colour blends too!!

mts ds loves colours and shapes so suppose numbers and letters are just the next step up. I think I was more shocked at the fact we hadnt done any of it as such and he just 'knew' them from somewhere as he doesnt go to nursery.

It varies a lot ds could recite 1-10 when he was 18months, dd is 4, and doesn't! Ds could recognise numbers before he was 2, but dd can only recognise a few, but was a whizz at letters before she was 2. And I really wouldn't say that one is more inteeligent than the other, their brains just wotk in different ways

I agree that counting to ten is just repetition - doesnt really mean much. I think the important thing is that they understand the concept of numbers, rather than the symbol. So if he knows that three trains are three, thats good.

But I'm not a teacher - just a mum . Well you probably have worked that out, otherwise i coudl have explained that a lot better

I think dd was younger when she grasped the concept that 3 means three things...

Off the subject slightly my mum (a nightmare) says I could speak in sentences at 13 mo and know what I was saying like putting my doll to sleep and telling it time for sleep! I don't think so DD is 13 mo and can say Mumma and Dada and thats about it, she does recognise words you say to here though.