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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

I really don't want to sound gloaty, because I'm not, am just wondering if it's quite early...

31 replies

bohemianbint · 10/10/2008 08:54

for DS1 (who is 26 months tomorrow) to be able to count from 2-8 perfectly?

Please don't flame me, am not being smug - I just want to know if that is quite young? I'm not for one minute claiming he is a genius, as he seems totally incapable of learning not to throw his food all over the floor...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sarah293 · 10/10/2008 08:56

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stealthsquiggle · 10/10/2008 08:57

Does he count, or just know the numbers? Only DD can "count" at 24 months, but she is just reciting the words IYSWIM - if you put 5 objects in front of her she would probably not arrive at 5 when asked 'how many?' (although she does know that the answer to 'how many?' should be a number, interestingly)

WaynettaSlob · 10/10/2008 09:03

well if you're smug and gloating then I will be too. My DS2 can do 1 - 10.....he is a second child though and i think that has something to do with it.....is your DS1 a firstborn or subsequent?

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 10/10/2008 09:06

Pretty normal if you count with him or he watches kids TV with counting.

LilRedWG · 10/10/2008 09:06

My DD is identical to SS's DD. Knows that the answer should be a number but doesn't always get the right one. I think at this age they are still really just reciting by rote.

jojosmaman · 10/10/2008 09:21

My nephew similar age can count 1-10 but that is because he has an inhaler and so his mum counts 1-10 every day twice a day when he has it. He is just reciting but it is very cute!!

MrsMattie · 10/10/2008 09:24

My DS could 'count' to 20 at the age of 2 yrs old. He could also 'say the alphabet'. It was just a memory trick, really...he couldn't actually count. He couldn't add up or identify 4 pennies or 3 blocks or whatever. Just like he couldn't tell me anything about the letter 'a' other than it came before 'b'. He had a good memory - but he wasn't a mathmatical genius, unfortunately

littlelapin · 10/10/2008 09:31

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Original poster

bohemianbint · 10/10/2008 09:52

I really wasn't gloating! I was just wondering - it's only a few months since I was a bit worried he wasn't talking, and suddenly he's really really chatty and can count. I was really amazed when I heard him yesterday, I almost cried; I really didn't know he could do it. He does count things if there's 4 or less, otherwise I think it probably is just knowing the words as some have said.

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littlelapin · 10/10/2008 09:56

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cyberseraphim · 10/10/2008 09:58

Mine is 23 months and can count 1- 8 and point to the ducks or teddies when he's doing it. Completely normal but normal is good.

MrsMattie · 10/10/2008 09:58

You're allowed to be amazed and proud of your child!@bohemianbint

The difference between 2 yrs old and 3 yrs old is amazing - the huge developmental leaps they make are astounding. My son was still at the stage of baby talk and reciting numbers without really understanding their concept at 2. At 3, he is starting to read his first words and never bloody shuts up! Prepare to be amazed....

littlelapin · 10/10/2008 10:03

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MrsMattie · 10/10/2008 10:07

@littlelapin.

Sycamoretree · 10/10/2008 10:24

It's great, but not sure it's massively unusual (but still great - not peeing on your fireworks!). DD could count to 10 (and above) at 2, but often got the teens muddled. She also learned by climbing the stairs and counting with mummy and daddy.

I think she vaguely understood the concept, because of the stairs, but I suspect she just had rather a good memory as opposed to anything else. i.e. that she could string the numbers together in the right order, but beyond that had no understanding of what numbers were.

She is 3 now - she can't read, but give her a short board book with a line or so on every page and she can "read it" to you. She has just memorized it from repeated reading. It is quite funny to wind people up with though. My sister nearly had a heart attack when we got her to "read" Dr Seuss wet pet dry pet to her! She genuinely thought we had a child genius on our hands.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/10/2008 10:26

My DD is 2 next week, today for the first time she started counting things from 1-5 properly, she has been able to count from 1-10 by just reciting it for a month or two now, if that helps!!

Sycamoretree · 10/10/2008 10:28

And also, no one thinks your gloating Bohemian - it's lovely when your DC's make these amazing leaps, and for sure there will be plenty of other 26mnth olds who can't do this, so you should still be very proud!

I am ridiculously proud that DD (just 3yr) can recognise her name tag from a choice of about 20 at nursery. It doesn't matter a jot that probably half of the other kids can also do this. It's still hugely exciting, when you see them making this kind of progress.

Sycamoretree · 10/10/2008 10:29

Sorry, YOU'RE

memoo · 10/10/2008 10:32

I think its quiet usual really, especially if you have been counting with him or he hears counting of TV programmes. Repeating what they hear is one of the ways that children hear.

I do think you should still be proud of him though. Watching your child grow and learn is a really precious thing and you should cherish every moment of it.

Troutpout · 10/10/2008 10:45

Don't think it's particularly young no. Think it's actually quite normal to pick these things up if it interests them enough (just like anything really).
Glad he's coming on in leaps and bounds ...it's a lovely age

berolina · 10/10/2008 10:50

ds1 could count to 13 before he was 2 - after 13 he always went straight to 16 (and tbh still does, at 3.5 - no idea why).

I apparently started reading at 20 months ds1 can 'read'/recognise quite a few letters and the odd word. We both adore books, which is completely enough for me.

DaDaDa · 10/10/2008 10:52

We were having dinner a couple of months ago and DS (then around 20 months) grabbed 2 handfuls of bread rolls. 'How many do you actually need?' I asked him.

'1,2,3,4....' he replied. So he's not only a mathematical genius but a sarcastic little bugger too.

darkpunk · 10/10/2008 10:53

pretty normal ..all mine could count to 10 at that age.

VinegARGHHHTits · 10/10/2008 10:56

my ds is 2.3 and can count from 1 - 13, i would say its normal

Heated · 10/10/2008 10:57

Ds1 did because with pfb intensity we counted every time we went up and down the stairs. He's now 4.5 and counts in 2s and 10s and does basic adding up although dh keeps muttering about number bonds ??

but dd2 (2.5yrs) just seems to mysteriously know. She counts up to 14 (and then skips a few) and counts up objects up to ten. Think this is usual in the 2-3 yr bracket.

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