DH and I speak to our son in our native language at home. We never speak to him in English as we are sure he will learn it quickly at school. We live in London.
DS is now nearly 19 months old. A few days ago, as I was putting up some coloured magnets on the fridge, I started to count them, 1, 2, 3 (in my native language) and immediately he started to repeat them ! I was amazed as so far he actually says very little that is a full word in any language.
Since then, I have been counting things out for him all the time (trying to teach him up to 5 numbers) and he has been really enthusiastic, especially when I change his nappy or put on his socks I start counting his toes, and sometimes he will take the initiative, point to his toes and do it himself.
He isn't very good at pronouncing 1, and 4, as they are more difficult to pronounce, but still, I am really, really pleased as they are the first properly pronounced words he has ever said !!
I have read somewhere that toddlers only learn to count (by rote) at around 2 years old. Is this true ? Also, they do not associate the words 1, 2, 3, etc. with counting until much later than 2 years old ?
I am just wondering if anyone has experience of this ? Do you have a child who started counting objects out way before their 2nd birthday ?