Nearly 3 Numeracy/Literacy help please

[mamablondie33]

What does the average 2.5-3 year old know in terms of letters, alphabet/sounds and numeracy - reciting numbers, up to what number and actual conceptual understanding of counting.

I’m just trying to know how to help my little one. Thanks!

The average 2 year would be able to count to 10, identify multiple colours and body parts and know some letters from the alphabet. A three year old would be able to count in excess of 20, know all colours and standard body parts, know all letters of the alphabet and be starting with very early maths and reading/recognising simple words (like their name). At 4 years old this extends to simple addition/substraction and simple reading and writing (like their name).

The early years foundation stage criteria may help. I spent a bit of time cross referencing what we do in our house for each criteria and uploaded to my blog. you can download for free without having to submit an email etc
raising2children.com/the-ultimate-free-eyfs-guide-for-parents/

@AladdinMum thank you, this is helpful. So more about recognising the numbers and reciting them in order? She knows them but gets them mixed up a bit so maybe we will focus on this for now. Thank you

My daughter has just turned two and can count to ten and recognise all numbers to ten. She also counts items and has good one to one correspondence (she doesn't count the same thing twice for example). She knows most colours, only 3 shapes, all of her body parts and only 3 letters of the alphabet as yet.

As a teacher, conceptually, it is more important for children to understand that the number 5 is not just a 'thing' to remember, like vocabulary. It means there are 5 of something.

So instead of purely focusing on memorising numbers or rote counting, I'd have your child actively counting objects in the environment. Ask them to bring you 5 objects, or 3 cars etc.

Learning to count backwards is just as important as forwards. Although obviously, full understanding of forwards is required first! You can play countdown games etc.

I'm not an early years expert but I think some of these comments are much more what an advanced child would know not an average child. And I'd say learning these things isn't linear or the same for each child. For example mine had a concept of big and little and could recognise when there was 1 or 2 of something and count small numbers of objects before she could be bothered to count to 10 tbh. I think by 3 they should have some concept of big and little and have an idea when there's 2 of something and more than 2 and by starting school should have some basic foundations of counting. No way should they be able to add and subtract... fab if they can but in no way typical or mentioned in the eyfs criteria. I think as well it's important to learn that all kids mature at different levels and some just don't want to demonstrate to you that they can do something at this age. The best thing to do for them is to just introduce the concepts in play to whatever degree they can tolerate and let them lead it at this age. They really should be playing. And don't be intimidated by a few people that swear their kid could do calculus by age 2. Maybe they will be the next einstein or maybe other kids will catch uo by school age. Numeracy and literacy are important for sure but it takes a holistic approach to make a child ready for school and learning which is why the EYFS criteria is so vast. If you really want a true representation of what is expected then I'd google the EYFS criteria and not rely on a few anecdotal 'my kid could do X by this age' posts on here. X

I agree addition and subtraction is for school age children. Writing your name comes around 4 or 5 but all children are different. Most learning is done through play, I have taught many 4 year olds who are just learning to recognise numbers to ten.

I was merely talking about next steps once the child can count. I was not at Any point saying that a child of 2 should be able to do so. But if they're able to, and you're looking to move forward, that would be your moving point.

Tbh though I still refer to my point that you have to be led by the child. My LO could accurately count a number of objects in a book, for example, not long after turning 2 but she's a stubborn madam and really doesn't like being taught anything and can lack confidence a bit so she can be very reluctant to show you that she can do something. She either refuses to do it, tells me to do it or deliberately (I think) does it wrong so I am not pushing her as I may well end up giving her a complex and hating numeracy. She's almost 3 now and tbh hasn't progressed much further but is starting to take more interest in counting and finding her own opportunities to count things and show me that she can count. Of course I encourage this heavily but no way am I going to push her to learn addition, etc, just yet when she's not even emotionally mature enough to count something for me accurately when I ask her to. Sometimes we have to use our common sense a bit. Mine knew her basic shapes by 18MO and could do a 50pc jigsaw by 2.5. My gut tells me she's not going to struggle with Maths whether I teach her to do sums now and make us both miserable in the process or teach it her when she comes to me and wants to learn it. I think we have to look at the kid as a whole and also remember that first and foremost we're their parents and our job is simply to provide them with the nurture and stability that they need to thrive at school not to be the school...

Absolutely not, I wouldn't expect a preschool child to do sums. My daughter is 2 and can't do any jigsaws at all. She's obsessed with numbers!

My other daughter was a much better talker and could do complex jigsaws while very young. She had no interest in numbers at this stage though, she didn't know any.

My youngest only knows them because she's shown an active interest. She has zero interest in jigsaws! 😂 She's recently started learning her colours, but again, it was led by her interests.

My eldest was the most stubborn child in the world, she could talk the ears off you but zero interest in learning numbers, colours etc. However, she's now 16 and very academic!

I do feel a bit like you're accusing me of not being a parent first and foremost here? I hope I am misunderstanding.

Nope that wasn't my intention. I'm just trying to reassure the OP that their child is probably fine regardless of what they can/can't do before they even start school. I know what it feels like to feel like you're not doing enough for your child and be comparing them to other kids and be tearing your hair out coz you feel like you're putting your all in and yet they're not excelling (my own dd took a while to take off with talking but let's just say she's making up for it now!) And I'm fast learning that you really have to give yourself a break and just enjoy this time with them when they're little and make happynmemories. Sooner or later they're going to have to make the decision that there is a use for Maths or that Shakesphere actually wrote some pretty bitching plays and find their own motivation towards these subjects. Chances are that we can't really influence these passions as much as we like to think we can so we should probably just chill

Although my little girl knows her numbers and colours etc, she's still taking a while with the talking. She is only just beginning to talk in very short sentences. I've been so worried about her in the past and yet here she is, carrying on at her own wee pace. She's very much only interested in her own agenda, she's not willing to learn or do anything she doesn't want to. And I'm happy with that! She's taken so long to get started with the talking and now I'm just happy she's interested in trying to say something, whether that be numbers, letters, animals, shapes, I don't really care! 😂

I'm just enjoying her as she is. I have 3 siblings... We are all very different, all raised in the same way. I could read before I started school, the others couldn't. It doesn't count for much, the others caught up where I plateaued. My eldest has ADHD and could not do much before school. She was very creative but took her a couple of years worth of school to read and write. She's excelling now and hoping to go to university.

I think we put too much emphasis on comparison with other children.

When I look around my classroom, it isn't evident who could walk first, who could talk first, who could use a fork first. It really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I remember a parent telling me her daughter didn't speak any words till she was almost 4. I was completely shocked as she was incredibly bright and did not stop talking in the classroom at this point. 😂

Anyway, I'm blethering now, sorry!