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Original poster

4 year old cannot recognise letters/numbers

45 replies

MummyGeorge · 03/03/2009 08:03

Hi all,

I've got a son who has just turned 4. I have tried a lot to encourage letter and number recognition for him with Jolly Phonics and sticking post-its of letters in his rooms, getting small nice books etc. But somehow, he still is not able to get a hang of it. He recognizes a few letters (phonics) but that's just about 5-6. He will be starting school in September, and I'm a bit worried about him, and want him to be able to at least do this, so that it will not be a rough ride for him in school. Any advise would be really appreciated.

Thanks !

OP posts:

MommyG · 31/03/2009 09:17

Thanks Discoball - that is very encouraging indeed. Recently, I have started using UNO cards with him to recognise numbers, and we are playing a little game - and he has shown significant improvement with numbers!

As for letters, when you start teaching letters, do you start with phonics straightaway? DS knows the first letter sounds from JollyPhonics .. satipn.. so its not abcde pattern. Is that alright? and he also doesnt know the letter names, only letter sounds.

Niecie · 31/03/2009 09:29

My DS2 has been in Yr R since September when he turned 5.

He couldn't recognise letters, although he could recognise some numbers, he refused to hold a pencil so his drawing and writing skills were non-existent. I don't even think he could recognise his name although I am not sure. He just wasn't interested at all.

This half term he has been in a good work assembly because his handwriting is so good, he knows all his numbers and letters and has gone up through several reading levels.

It is not your job to teach your child to read and write, unless they want to of course. Try not to worry about it now and leave it to the school. They will help him and they have techniques for teaching. They don't expect him to be able to do anything except dress, feed and toilet themselves when the children start school. DS2's teacher even said at the last parents' evening that she was glad we didn't force him to learn because it could possibly have put him off before he even started school and they should be playing at that age anyway. I like her - she agreed with me.

Reading books to him is the best thing you can do.

(FWIW I don't like Jolly Phonics either and I don't think DS2 did - he didn't seem to take to it at all but they don't use it at school which is good imo).

titchy · 31/03/2009 10:12

If you want to prepare him for school - make sure he can dress and undress himself, feed himself, take turns, sit quietly when asked, follow simple instructions, go to the toilet and wipe his bum by himself. If you want to be a pushy parent encourage him to recognise and if possible write his own name.

That is ALL you need to do. If he can do all of the above his Reception teacher will LOVE him (and you) for it. Do NOT worry about learning to read or write that is the teachers job - your job is to do all the above

lljkk · 31/03/2009 17:13

I agree with Titchy, although it's not 'pushy' to teach them to read their own name; that's a jolly useful skill -- well-worth encouraging.

katiestar · 31/03/2009 18:40

My friends little boy only knew letter sounds when he started in reception .His mum had tried all sorts with him. By the end of reception he was on Biff & Chip stage 7

katiestar · 31/03/2009 18:40

AAgh meant to say he could only recognise 2 letter sounds

mumeeee · 31/03/2009 23:28

DON't worry he does not have to recognise letters and numbers befoer he starts school a lot of 4 year olds can't.

discoball · 01/04/2009 19:17

Hi, MummyGeorge

Yes, they teach the phonics straightaway, satpin, etc.... and it's not unusual for 4 year olds to not know any at all! Believe me, the teachers will be impressed if he just knows the letter sounds in his own name, or any at all!! Just go with the flow at school, you'll soon know where and when to help him, let the teachers lead you! The letter names are taught later on, I wouldn't worry at all about those at the moment. Good luck, I hope he enjoys school. My son went to secondary school this year and I really miss seeing him around the primary school!! Make the most of these years..!! Bye for now,

Alambil · 01/04/2009 21:25

In my opinion, you need to do one VERY important thing with him.

Just one.

Multiple times a day / week.

That one thing is:

READ stories.

You'll be surprised at how much he's storing and absorbing from simply hearing you read a story.

Use fun books, rhyming stories and repetitive ones as a base: Colin West is a brilliant pre-school / early reading author. His books are bright, interactive, funny and repetitive rhymes, such as this one in amazon for a fiver or things like The Very Hungry Caterpillar where the pictorial clues help the word recognition.

Having studied the learning of reading at uni recently, I can confidently say that by reading to him, he'll learn - it may not be apparent, but he'll be enjoying himself (rule number one) and getting used to words / sounds by repeating the repeating sentence back to you; point to the words as you say them and he'll make links between the squiggles on the page and the noises you're / he's making

So remember the three rules -

rule one, have fun;
rule two, read a LOT;
rule three, have fun

TeacherGran · 28/04/2009 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

catwalker · 28/04/2009 22:15

Please don't worry - your child is only 4! I have 3 kids - the eldest started to read around 4/5 and the youngest at 2. I can remember talking to my middle child's teacher at the beginning of Y1 and telling her that "he just doesn't get this reading lark at all". He's a September born child so would have been almost, if not,6.

By the end of Y5 he was level 5 in Maths, English and Science, passed his 11+ and is regularly picked out at his grammar school to take part in extra English stuff like spelling bees, visits to author sessions etc.

Relax! And above all, don't turn reading into a chore.

mumeeee · 28/04/2009 23:37

All chidren start school at different stages of development and a lot of 4 year olds do not recognise numbers r letters.

bodiddly · 03/05/2009 22:24

TeacherGran .. I have just had a quick look at your scheme - is this the way that children were taught to read in the 70s? I remember Janet and John books etc but have no memory of learning my letters or numbers at all! Do children need letter recognition to do your scheme? My ds only knows O and X - he can recognise his name etc but thats about it. He isnt too interested and refuses to copy writing etc though he loves drawing (in fact drawing and books are his greatest love) and doing his own fairly nonsensical letters/writing, some of which turn out to be actual letters. I have taken this to mean he isn't ready as he almost shuts down when you ask him about letters. I was planning on leaving him to it but quite like the sound of your scheme! Do you do mumsnetter discounts?

mrz · 04/05/2009 14:25

I'm a reception teacher and wouldn't expect many of my new intake in September to know letters or numbers.
Children normally pick up phonics very quickly unless there are hearing problems (glue ear is common at this age)and once they have been taught the first set of sounds (s, a, t, i, p, n if taught Jolly Phonics other programmes can vary very slightly) they soon learn to blend words using these sounds. Don't teach letter names at this point as it is confusing and doesn't help at all with reading and spelling. If you teach letter sounds make sure you don't say buh, cuh, duh etc there are lots of sites online that demonstrate how to say the sounds correctly TRY

THIS is a fun site for phonics. personally I don't like starfall simply because of the accent which can confuse children.

bodiddly · 05/05/2009 14:44

bump for TeacherGran

mrz · 08/05/2009 18:36

piscesmoon · 08/05/2009 19:30

I agree with titchy. I am sure that the teacher would much rather they can dress themselves, wipe their own bottom, take turns etc. Reading isn't a race-once they are a fluent reader it doesn't matter whether they knew their letters at 4 yr or 6 yrs.

Builde · 08/06/2009 13:24

I really wouldn't worry. 4 is very young and children that age should be allowed to develop their own interests and not be pushed

Reception teachers are very used to children of all abilities and ages but you will probably find that by the end of year 1 (or even reception) your child will be reading. Teachers are very skilled in encouraging children without it becoming 'an issue'.

Do not worry about all these pre-schoolers who can recognise and draw letters. We made a positive effort no to do anything like this until out daughter started school (although may of her peers were doing it at their pre-schools) and she has picked it all up very quickly at school.

mrz · 08/06/2009 21:17

good advice Builde

PinkTulips · 08/06/2009 21:28

My 4 year old hasn't a clue about this stuff, she's starting school in september and i'm not a bit worried.. the school don't expect them to know any of this stuff. The teachers only requirement was; 'If it's not too much trouble could you teach them how to hold a pencil correctly please?'

My 2 year old on the other hand is a freaky little genius who can recognise all letter upeer and lower case, tell me what sound each one of them makes, tell me what words start with that sound and can tell me what letter a word starts with just by listening.... none of this was actively taught... he just picked it up.

All kids are differant, some have an interest, some don't.. forcing it will only put him off learning so i wouldn't bother if i were you.

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