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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Indulge me....is it unusual for a 2.3 year old to be able to...

28 replies

boo64 · 29/10/2007 08:59

count objects (not just reciting the numbers)

he is 2.3 and can identify where there are up to 4 things randomly (i.e. not where I'm just adding 1 extra of an item each time).

recognise almost all letters (he gets mixed up with K's and Z's) - has been doing this for a while and has started 'reading' individual letters a lot when we are out and will see a word with say two d's in it and two a's and start saying 'two d's, two a's etc.

I'm honestly just curious - is this unusual?
I know that even if it is unusual it doesn't make him a genius and actually although his speech is okish it isn't that good for his age.

(And before anyone slates me I don't sit down and teach him stuff!)

Boo cowers waiting for people to make sarcastic comments....but indulge me I just am curious as I sense this is quite unusual but don't want to ask other mums in real life!)

OP posts:

Piccalilli2 · 29/10/2007 09:02

My dd (2) can count objects, I don't think that's unusual. She doesn't recognise letters though.

DumbledoresGirl · 29/10/2007 09:08

If it helps you to see this from an older perspective, my ds2 is now nearly 10 and has been identified as "extremely gifted" in Maths. I wouldn't say he was a genius, but he is very bright and I would one day be interested to know how he compares to proper geniuses iyswim. Anyway, when he started playgroup aged 2.6, he already knew his entire alphabet and was able to count up to about 10. I didn't teach him anything as such either, he just picked it all up from what was around him, and listening to his brother who is 18 months older than him. When he started school, he could already read a bit - I had no idea he could do this and was a bit surprised when he demonstrated what he could do!

So I would say your son sounds similar to mine. Yes, very bright, and fairly unusual but fortunately, (IMO) not excessively so.

Original poster

boo64 · 29/10/2007 13:51

Thanks - dumbledores - am totally with you on what you imply, that you wouldn't want a child to be freakishly bright - it would be more of a curse than a blessing I'm sure.

I just don't have many reference points amongst kids a similar age given it's not really the done thing to say 'hey can he/she do this?'!

I've had a few comments from people in shops etc where ds is reading off letters which is what made me wonder about it really. They were perhaps especially surprised given he's quite little for his age so they might think he is slightly younger than he is.

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Elphaba · 29/10/2007 13:55

I don't think it's unusual to be able to count objects

I think it's more unusual to know all those letters at 2.3 though

IME, anyway. Ds3 is just 3 and he only knows two or three letters whereas he count into the 30s and 40s.

MorocconOil · 29/10/2007 14:01

My DD 2.4 can count 4 objects, but hasn't shown any recognition of letters yet.

She knows the times tables up to 10 though. Only joking

DumbledoresGirl · 29/10/2007 14:17

Yes, I agree that being able to recite numbers is maybe not so unusual, (after all, they can learn nursery rhymes, so why not the order of numbers?) but being able to count the number of objects is a more advanced skill and would suggest your son is going to have a talent for Maths. You could try a little test: Say he had counted there were 4 apples, see what he says if you ask him how many apples there would be if you ate one or if you bought another two. Being able to do simple addition and subtraction at that age would be something.

tori32 · 29/10/2007 14:19

I would say it is quite unusual as I mind 2 girls aged 2.2 and 2.3 who have no idea about numbers or letters yet they get the same stimulation with me as my dd. She is also unusual, aged 21mths, can get you a letter if you associate it with the phonic i.e. can you get the sss for snake or t for tiger etc she always matches the letter to the pic, also she can tell me the colours of most objects. She also speaks in 3 word sentences. i.e. put it down, pick it up, that sort of thing.

I don't think that it makes them genius either, just bright. Development is interesting and I do find it fascinating to watch the different rates and stages they go through. I think most by school age will have similar skills though. IYSWIM

yurt1 · 29/10/2007 14:22

ds3 (aged 2) can count/understands number concept. I don't think it's that unusual. he can also read the odd word which surprised me (but whole word recognistion, he's not 'reading'). DS1 knew the entire alphabet & could count and recognised things like equals signs and trapeziums aged 2- he has very severe learning difficulties.

Hallowedam · 29/10/2007 14:22

Agree with Dumbledore, counting objects rather than just reciting numbers is quite advanced for his age. And he does seem to be early with letter recognition, too. Especially as you haven't coached him!

Well done your ds, he's obviously a bright little boy.

Elphaba · 29/10/2007 14:25

Dumbledore - I agree re reciting numbers vs actual counting. Ds3 was definitely counting things in books - past 20. However he has two older brothers that do all that stuff with him so I think he has an advantage there. He does seem good on his maths though I must admit and less so on letters and words.

Elphaba · 29/10/2007 14:27

tori32 - I think it's only by year 2 or 3 that children start to even out in their ability, maybe even later.

In reception the gap is still huge and even last year when I was reading with year 1s, the gap was pretty big between those reading quite fluently and those still struggling with phonics.

sagitta · 29/10/2007 14:29

My dd (1.10) knows about half her letters, but cannot count at all, and doesn't know any numbers. Dunno if that means she's very bright or very stupid! It's going to be fun finding out though...

omeN666 · 29/10/2007 14:31

Ds was very like this at that age, knew his alphabet and recognised letters could count out items up to 12[can now count to 100 and was 4 at beginning of month] and like your son his speech was behind the norm. He had Speech and Language from as soon as he turned 3 which helped greatly.
DD1 is 22mths and can count out things up to 7 but then their dad is very good at science and maths.Her speech however is a lot better than DS and she is able to do his speech sounds from the SALT better and easier than he can.

Original poster

boo64 · 29/10/2007 17:24

Development is so asynchronous - I find it very interesting too.

Dh is absurdly clever and was very much a mathmo at school so maybe ds is going to be like him (is that a good thing - I'll be surrounded by mathmo nerds?!?)

Yurt - I don't even know what a trapezium is and I'm a grown up! I'm impressed!

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bagpuss · 29/10/2007 17:33

DS1 was like that as a toddler and knew how to count and knew most of the alphabet before his second birthday. He could read quite fluently by the time he left pre-school and now at the age of 7 has just been put on the G&T register for reading and maths. DH is also extremely clever (complete straight A student throughout most of his academic career) and I think ds1 takes after him quite a lot. dd, on the other hand, has had the same upbringing completely and yet needs extra help in the subjects ds1 is "gifted" in. I think therefore that it really depends on the child and what interests them, but I don't think that it is particularly unusual.

Original poster

boo64 · 29/10/2007 18:00

ugh further to my mathmo comment - I've just had a vision of the future where dh and ds are discussing prime numbers over breakfast.....help save me somebody!!

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DumbledoresGirl · 29/10/2007 19:58

boo, there is no help for you! Although I mentioned my ds2 only as he is the brightest of my children, I actually have 4 and all of them are good at Maths. Dd is fortunately good at other things too so her conversation should be more varied, and ds3 is only 4 yo (although already far in advance of national expectations in Maths) but ds2 and ds1 have already had many of that sort of conversation with dh over breakfast, lunch and tea!

Simple questions on mathematical or scientific matters never get simple answers from my dh anyway.

berolina · 29/10/2007 20:05

ds1, 2.5, can count accurately to up to 13, but doesn't always get it 'right'. Sometimes he will count the first object again at the end.

He's beginning to recognise the odd letter and number.

berolina · 29/10/2007 20:07

Something ds1 did the other day made me think 'hang on, he's not reading, is he?!' But he hasn't repeated it, so no idea if.

popsycal · 29/10/2007 20:13

I think that is pretty impressive. DS2 is 2 years 8 months. He can count to ten but only understands it in relation to objects to 5.

He has suddenly taken a huge interest in letters....recognises about half the alphabet in terms of the letters of members of our family's names. He spotted a rugby 'goal' (ok ok I know nothing about rugby ) and said 'H for Harry'.

DS1, at 5, is a brill reader (can I have a gushy moment ) but he did not understand the letters like ds2 did at this age.

I guess if they are interested then go with it. If not, then don't worry!

joedar · 29/10/2007 20:22

My dd is 2/11 and knows none of the alphabet!! Now I am starting to worry!! Especially when I read of Sagitas 1/10 year old knows half her letters!!

Original poster

boo64 · 29/10/2007 20:24

Please don't worry Joedar - I promise ds's speech really isn't great so they just all concentrate on different things!

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popsycal · 29/10/2007 20:24

joedar - dont worry. Enjoy him being young

joedar · 29/10/2007 20:34

Oh thanks, well her diction and speech is good and she was potty trained at 2/1. She is my third of 4 and I don't remember the older 2 being that fluent in letters either. I would think you your little guy is excelling in words and numbers, you may have a little genius on your hands!

Original poster

boo64 · 29/10/2007 20:37

'tis all swings and roundabouts Joedar.
I think it's easy to look at others and think oh no my dc can't do that but actually there's nearly always something they do really well that the other kid concerned can't do so well iyswim....am rambling.

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