What should 3 year old know in terms of numbers/counting?

[lyssie29]

Just curious really. I know they're all different. My daughter is 3 in October and recognizes numbers and can line up numbers 1 to 10 in order without asking what number is what. I can jumble them and she will pick them all out and tell me what they are and put them in order. Is this quite good at this age or pretty normal? I don't think my eldest could do it at this age but really she didn't show any interest in numbers and she focused more on alphabet whereas my almost 3 year old has no interest whatsoever in alphabet and has only just started getting interested in reading books.

That sounds super impressive to me! My 3.4 year old can count to 20 but is only just recognising what each number looks like (with quite a bit of input & practise) let alone being able to reorder. So interesting that your two showed preferences for English / math so young

My first was a bit precocious and could count and recognise numbers up to 100 from just after turning 3! He was just very into numbers at the time and is now at a normal level for his age. He also knew his alphabet very early, most letters before he was 2.

Younger one is just 3 now and can recognise numbers to 10 and count to 20 reliably. Probably knows most letters now too, with a bit of confusion with ones like b and d. I think this a bit more normal.

I think there is a great range at this age depending on what interests them and what they've been exposed to.
My dd, for example, learnt numbers 1-9 while waiting for bus number 2, which didn't come, but 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 did regularly

If they haven't had some exposure to what numbers are and what order they come in, then they're not going to know how to order them. Otoh I've come across 3yos who can add up and subtract 2 digit numbers because they were interested in numbers, they wanted to do it, so learnt how to.

There really is no "should" at this age. My eldest is very very good at maths and could recognise, and line up numbers up to 100 at 3. My youngest has just started reception and at 3 couldn't recognise all numbers up to ten or line them up. She's now 4.5 and seems like she's doing well in terms of numeracy (early days obviously).

having worked in a school i know they expect them by nursery to recognise 1-10, simple shapes and colours and to also be able to write their name and know animal names and to name fruit and veg and be able to tell you their age an where they live. they dont expect too much.

also would just like to add they dont expect them to know the alhabet. but do expect them to write their name and recognise those letters. they did also expect them to be able to use bobbin and thread and make a very simple pattern so blue red blue red ect and to be able to hold a pen and scissors and be able to rip paper. i dont remember them askin them to do anything else. these things were marked and did put them in sets high middle and low but honestly children would jump up and down i remember children being in top in unrsery and reception but went to low in year one. means nothing really they all learn at different paces and have different interests

@enidlowrij they expect them to write their name before nursery? My little one can recognize numbers and colours but just scribbles. She can't get her grip right at the minute to be any where near drawing any shape never mind her name. My oldest is in year 1 now and I'm sure she didn't learn to write her name until she started reception and her nursery were totally fine with that and she wasn't "behind" compared to other kids more like she was in the average. I guess different schools do things differently.