Hes nearly 3 and he can't count to 3.

[Bekki]

Does anyone else have this problem. I have tried every trick/method in the book and yet my son counts like this.... 1...2..........4...8, what is going wrong? Why can't he remember the sequences, he has never said number three, ever. My sisters daughter is six months younger and can count to one hundred and can read 24 hour clocks! Is it possible that being terrible at Mathematics is genetic?

Sorry SofiaAmes I am the exception to the rule. It is not simply a matter of not quite understanding a sum or remembering numbers but it appears to be a much deeper problem which I'm in no way qualified to talk about so I'll leave it there but it does impede in day to day life even with things that you wouldn't immediatley think of as maths orientated (eg-simple problem solving like its autumn so do the clocks go forward or back? Its very simple but because I'm actively trying to find an answer, my mind goes blank). Whenever I try to explain this problem to people all I get back is "I'm not to brilliant at maths either". It is quite upsetting sometimes when I'm prevented from doing things because of this huge mental block. If there was someone who was specialised in helping adults overcome maths problems/phobias that really thought that I wasn't a lost cause then I would be amazed but incredibly relieved.
But no I live in the midlands.
Marialuisa- lol! I should use that on my sister. Her child is without a doubt the brainiest and most oddest little girl I've ever met. She asks everybody their phone numbers and addresses and memorises them! Instead of singing a nursery rhyme she memorises it and never bothers with it again.
We didn't count anything today which seemed to puzzle my ds who started asking me to count everything! I can see now how irritating that must have been for him.

Bekki - I'm the same with the clocks going forward/back. Remember 'Spring forward, fall back'. Works for me.

Everyone has a subject that they just can't grasp. Mine is physics. Dh laughed at me when I asked what caused wind (don't all say 'beans and sprouts' ) He thought that it was hilarious that I didn't know. He said to just try to work it out. I managed to make him understand that I could not do that, because I had no basic physical knowledge of the elements, so how could I even start trying?

Demented; Now I hear someone else say it I feel a bit silly. I mean they are 3 and 5 what are we worrying about? I know now that it wasn't a worry about his capabilities at this moment but about the possible implications that this slight blip would have on his abilities in the future. If he is to be like me then theres nothing that I can do about it. But as long as I'm not pressurising him then he shouldn't have the same fear that I do and might be more receptive about numbers in a few years. Oh listen to me, I could write a book on this now.

Now I'm curious, what is wind? I never knew that I didn't know before you mentioned it, if you know what I mean.

All men are the same when it comes to subjects that they understand, at least you didn't get a 4 hour talk on wind when you asked, I would've.

Don't feel silly at all Bekki, I was very hesitant about posting on this thread as perhaps I am too blase about my DS1's counting abilities.

I don't think so at all. From the little that you've said it seems you're handling it perfectly. If I had known that it was normal for ds to be having this confusion then I wouldn't have bothered half as much. Its just that every parent I've told replies with "my ds/d can count to 20 are you sure you are teaching him in the right way?" Why do women lie so much to each other. Its hard enough to be a parent without having these unrealistic comparisons constantly. Sorry just a pet peeve of mine.

Tried it SueW, failed before I took the exam. I doesn't matter how much effort I put into it its not something that I can do. Now remembering literature on the other hand I find easy.

Its nice to hear that most children even out by seven. However, I can still vivedly remember not being one of those children so it doesn't completely reassure me.

Bekki, I can't count things reliably to twenty, ie 1 - 20. I can if I can separate them in groups of 10 or 5, preferably. Otherwise I miss the 4s, not 4, but 14, 24, 34, etc. I know this and can't do anything about it.

And I'm very good at maths. I was a theoretical chemist in a previous lifetime and can do anything set down on paper (although nothing in my head!).

I think you had it right when you said "party tricks".

my dd1 is 3.5 years old. she has just had her assesment at nursery, and you know what, they are not interested in maths skills at this age, are more interested in social and behaviour skills. they have started inroducing basic maths, but its not a major thing.
i do make numbers part of everyday life. we count ocada trucks (live near the warehouse) which also means we learn colours at the same time. we count going up and down stairs, count horses, animals at the zoo, things going into the trolly when we go shopping, anything that can be counted will be at times if she is in the mood for counting.
dyslexia is apparent in my family, my kids dad is dyslexic, so in a way i know what to look out for there, but as she isnt reading and writing properly yet its isnt a major worry.
both kids are very good at sorting shapes and colours (asked dd2 qwho is 13months to get me a yellow building block the other day, and she did tho that may be coincidence lol), i hope i am making learning fun for them, i dont want to push things on them too much.

We count stairs but to me its purpose is more about distracting DS into walking up them (rather than insisting on being carried) than to practise counting.

Bekki I think this has been an interesting thread so thanks for starting it. Hope you have got some help from it. And really I don't think your DS has a "blip" (as you say) in this area. From what everyone else has posted he seems about average. What does your DH think about it all?

same as bozza we count stairs, 123 as prompts, counting jigsaw peices as they come out the box etc.

bekki- your son sounds adorable- I'd be more worried about wonder niece!